Combining survival horror and martial arts often generates excitement among fans, and "They Will Kill You" certainly makes a striking visual impression right from the start. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, the film begins powerfully, evoking a blend of Tarantino and Raimi, transforming the luxurious Virgil skyscraper into a stifling, enclosed battleground. However, this initial intensity doesn't last long. The exaggerated style—which frequently feels like a raw comic book or a quick-moving video game—begins to overshadow any real suspense, diminishing the sense of genuine danger. A significant problem arises from the film’s own unreal premise. While the hand-to-hand combat is brutal and features impressive sound and visual design, the fights lose their impact because the cult members possess instant healing abilities. When an opponent can simply recover minutes after sustaining a potentially fatal injury, completely unharmed and ready for another round, the desperate struggle for survival becomes a predictable pattern. The extreme violence ceases to be shocking and simply becomes automatic, draining the story of the essential threat it needed to maintain its momentum. Zazie Beetz is the film's strongest asset. She delivers a captivating and physically demanding performance as Asia Reaves, skillfully balancing authentic fear with explosive anger while desperately searching for her sister. She gives everything she can to the role, but the script doesn’t do justice to her abilities, leaving her character’s emotional depth somewhat superficial. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast fares even worse. Patricia Arquette feels misused as a one-dimensional antagonist who mostly issues orders and offers cruel smiles, while recognizable actors like Heather Graham and Tom Felton are literally and figuratively hidden behind masks, reduced to mere punching bags for the protagonist. It's disheartening to see so much acting talent squandered simply to enhance the movie’s advertising. Even the setting eventually loses its appeal. The New York skyscraper initially provides an interesting contrast between lavish luxury and gruesome violence, but it soon devolves into generic dark hallways and dimly lit rooms that contribute nothing to the tension. The film attempts to merge the dark humor of "Ready or Not" with the intense action sequences of "Kill Bill," but fails to establish a distinct identity for itself. Even the commentary on the wealthy sacrificing working-class individuals for immortality feels entirely superficial, functioning as just an excuse to initiate the bloodshed rather than genuinely examining the hypocrisy of the ultra-rich. By the time the hurried and muddled ending arrives, the repetitive fights have already desensitized the audience, making the final confrontation feel convenient and unsatisfying. It’s a prime example of a film that had all the necessary elements to be a standout in its genre but instead opted for a loud and superficial approach. Nevertheless, if you're simply looking to switch off your mind for ninety minutes and watch some unrestrained violence, it does possess a certain shock value. It might be worth seeing just to experience Sokolov’s attempt at chaotic pacing—and to see whether the choices that didn't resonate with others might actually appeal to you. Ultimately, personal experience is always the most reliable measure of any film.

Source on TMDB