They Will Kill You – Movie Reviews by Ry!

They Will Kill You – Check-in with a Sacrifice … I’ll Pay in Blood

To look at a film, we look at something that is unique in its own right.  From an epic quest to a simple narrative, a film moves along a certain path to provoke some kind of reaction from the audience.  From remembrance to the surreal, we all want to feel that grip.  Clichés may abound and predictability could set in, but if you are able to escape, enjoyment can be had.  In this review, I take a look at the latest action/thriller film.  From its own trivial premise, it is a journey that can only be defined by unhinged moments.  They Will Kill You might not be the most original, but it shows how sacrifices may rise above a bloody trail. 

One Woman, a New York Highrise and a mystery … a mixture that will lead to a bloody trail of havoc.  Through the aspect of the unexpected, it becomes a matter of how much is just enough.  From being somewhat mysterious to the unrelenting action, what becomes a matter of fact leads to a film that is caught between central motive and a thematic identity crisis.  In the beginning, we have a general prologue before we head into the present where we meet Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz), a young woman who applies to be a housekeeper at a premier high rise in New York City.  After some general dialogue, we dive headfirst into the mystery with a bloody action sequence that reveals the building’s truth: the residents must make a human sacrifice (who is Asia) to stay immortal.  As this surreal plot unfolds, we head on a placid narrative with a lack of character depth and situational progress.  Dialogue is drowned in exposition and the back and forth with ‘flashbacks’ becomes a tired trope.  As the journey slowly craters into telegraphed scenes and predictability, what keeps you engaged is the over-the-top action sequences.  For the obvious plot fodder at play, it is the back-and-forth between Asia Reaves and the cultist that keeps you guessing what will happen next. 

As the film continues down its chaotic path, new subplots lead to an imbalance of atmosphere and tone.  These revelations create moments that should be emotional, but become scenes of forced melodrama.  Even with a convoluted plot, the film drives home with its chaos in an intense third act and bloody action climax and epilogue.  They Will Kill You is a juggling act of gripping action and tired concepts.  If you are a fan of bloody action/thrillers or mysteries, there is some fun to be had here.  For everyone else … it could be a fun time at the theater, but for the right price.

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)