They Will Kill You (2026)

The film opens by introducing us to Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz) and her sister Maria during a late-night incident with their abusive father. The incident ends with Asia going on the run, believing she has shot their dad dead. She leaves little Maria behind - temporarily, she thinks - to the authorities, intending to return and rescue her. However, their dad survived and continued to abuse Maria, while Asia was captured and sent to prison.

We jump ten years ahead. Having served her sentence, Asia is determined to find Maria. With the help of a P.I. (last seen by me playing the miserable Bear Gerhardt in Fargo), she tracks her down to The Virgil, a historic Manhattan high-rise building occupied by New York’s ultra-wealthy elite. Asia sneaks her way in undercover as a new servant to locate Maria (now played by Myha'la).

On her very first day, Asia is introduced to a bunch of wealthy, robe-wearing, pig-masked residents led by the eccentric building superintendent, Lilith Woodhouse (Patricia Arquette). This is where it starts to get bonkers - the building locks down tight upon her arrival and it becomes clear that these fruit-loops intend to use her as a ritualistic human sacrifice to the devil in exchange for their ongoing immortality!

However, the cultists vastly underestimate Asia, who learned how to fight like a warrior in prison. Armed with swords and shotguns, she fights to survive and completely massacres her initial attackers! But there is more to it than that. Lilith’s husband, Ray (Paterson Joseph), rebels against the cult and saves Asia, explaining the building's horrific layout and supernatural rules to her. These residents have their names written in a demonic ledger, and whilst their name remains on it, they cannot die - they are immortal! Whenever they are injured or mangled, their bodies just heal and fix themselves up for the next round.

Asia is forced to fight her way up through the high-rise’s themed levels (from a chaotic dining room to the structural innards of the building), searching for Maria as she goes. All the while, she navigates a relentless onslaught of attacks from immortal socialites like Kevin (Tom Felton) and Sharon (Heather Graham). And so it goes on until the bloody finale, in which an animated, severed pig's head becomes the fun-filled star of the show! I won't spoil the ending for you, but I am sure you will work out who survives and who doesn't.

It is a wildly original, chaotic survival thriller built entirely on a mad idea, mixing the outrageously gory with the genuinely hilarious in near-equal measure. It pushes body horror to its absolute comic extreme rather than relying on genuine dread and a stomach-churning tone. The whole thing feels comic and funny most of the time to be honest, with the cast playing it with tongues firmly in cheeks throughout.

There are nods all over the place to other films and styles. One of the most obvious is Tarantino's 'chapter' approach, which gives the relentless survival plot a distinct Kill Bill feel as a seemingly invincible Asia goes completely nuts with a samurai sword, unleashing oodles of blood much like Uma Thurman's character, The Bride. Then there is the clear nod 9well, for me anyway) to Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson’s Guest House Paradiso, utilising a building packed with hidden passageways and corridors tucked within the walls and floors! Kirill Sokolov’s direction adds a vivid and striking look to the film. The bright, highly colourful sets are reminiscent of Wes Anderson, infused with wide corridors, distinct geometric carpets and lingering tracking shots that directly channel the haunting elegance of The Overlook Hotel from The Shining - and even the stylised architecture of The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The cinematography is super too, with great camera angles and close-ups of gore'n'more making the constant action just sparkle. You can also look out for the inclusion of some dark, witty details - like the 666 passcode required to unlock the door (blink and you’d miss it). The high-quality CGI work helps the overall effect as well, adding to that relentless, action-heavy theme by making the oodles of blood look just the ticket!

Zazie Beetz in the lead role is infectious. She keeps the pace and madness flowing with a chaotic energy and she is clearly having the time of her life playing this all-action heroine. Patricia Arquette is excellent as the antagonist, breezing through her villainous duties with an unhinged, naturally terrifying and delightfully mad charisma! Heather Graham and Tom Felton perfectly match the grindhouse-meets-slapstick tone as the smug, self-regenerating rich elite. And yes, there is Angus Sampson, whom I mentioned earlier, putting in a scene-stealing cameo with his mischief-infused character.

The finale is rip-roaring fun with that pig's head and well worth the wait. The animation is done really well and makes for excellent comic relief. It is a great, fun film - breathless, visually stunning and a bloody good time to be had by all! Highly recommended, especially as it is now arriving on various streaming services in the UK.