Directed by Kirill Sokolov
Where & When: TCL Chinese Theatres, Hollywood, CA. March 29, 2026 5:10 PM
Zazie Beetz first attracted attention for her performance as Van in Donald Glover's Afro-absurdist comedy series, "Atlanta" for four seasons. Since then, the actress has made several notable appearances in films that includes "Deadpool 2", "Bullet Train", lending her voice to the animated film, "The Bad Guys" and the sequel and featured in the two "Joker" movies. These have all been largely supporting roles but with the captivating action-comedy thriller, "They Will Kill You", Beetz is finally front and center, carrying the film with remarkable style and an imposing lethal presence. The Russian filmmaker, Kirill Sokolov makes his English-language debut with his third feature film, perfectly delivering a hilariously deranged, brutally violent, blood soaked thrill ride.
Asia (Beetz) and her younger sister, Maria (Orefile Moloi) are on the run, trying to escape from their abusive father (Darron Meyer). When he has them surrounded by his gang of thugs, Asia pulls out a gun, shoots her father and takes off running, leaving her sister behind.
Ten years later, Asia is showing up for a job as a maid for the Virgil, an exclusive high-rise building in New York City. Going by an alias, she's greeted by the building's manager, Lilith (Patricia Arquette), a stern Irish woman who explains the strict rules of this complex that caters to the very wealthy. After settling in for the evening, Asia is awakened by a horde of masked intruders that have broken into her room and try to take her. But she is no easy target, having arrived heavily armed and more than willing to fight back. Asia winds up killing all of them which included some of the guests (Heather Graham, Tom Felton) she had met earlier and informs Lilith that she's there to rescue her sister (now played by Myha'la) who works as a maid at the Virgil. Then all of the attackers heal themselves and come back to life, forcing Asia to go on the run until she can figure out what's going on.
Ten years later, Asia is showing up for a job as a maid for the Virgil, an exclusive high-rise building in New York City. Going by an alias, she's greeted by the building's manager, Lilith (Patricia Arquette), a stern Irish woman who explains the strict rules of this complex that caters to the very wealthy. After settling in for the evening, Asia is awakened by a horde of masked intruders that have broken into her room and try to take her. But she is no easy target, having arrived heavily armed and more than willing to fight back. Asia winds up killing all of them which included some of the guests (Heather Graham, Tom Felton) she had met earlier and informs Lilith that she's there to rescue her sister (now played by Myha'la) who works as a maid at the Virgil. Then all of the attackers heal themselves and come back to life, forcing Asia to go on the run until she can figure out what's going on.
There is the bombastic visual and non-linear narrative inspiration in "They Will Kill You" that is clearly drawn from Quentin Tarantino, particularly the writer/director's grindhouse opus, "Kill Bill". Yet Sokolov, who also cites the works of Sergio Leone, Park Chan-wook and Martin Scorsese as influences, reveals his own singular approach to this film. His first feature, "Why Don't You Just Die!" from 2018 is distinctly Russian in spirit with dry, dark humor while incorporating Western-styled action thrills that was made to appeal to a wider international audience. With "They Will Kill You", Sokolov is able to really let loose, briskly and stylishly, with some creatively gruesome, battle scenes and wildly elaborate chase sequences throughout many of the nooks and crannies of this archaic building.
Asia soon discovers that she's fighting against the supernatural through Ray (Paterson Joseph), the building's Black maintenance man (and also happens to be Lilith's husband) who explains to her that the residents of the Virgil worship Satan and are given eternal life as long as they regularly offer him human sacrifices. And that's where Asia comes in although she had traded places with the woman who was actually hired in order to locate Maria. After the sisters find each other, their reunion is less warm and forgiving but more filled with aggression and animosity.
While the film hits all of the familiar beats expected in a bloody action-thriller, what makes "They Will Kill You" really stand out is having an African-American woman as our protagonist. Much like what "Sinners" accomplished by deftly incorporating traumatic African-American historical elements into the long established vampire lore, this film offers a rarely seen focus on a fierce and determined Black female combatant (who learned to fight during her time in prison) able to stand her ground against those trying to stop her from her mission of locating her estranged sister. Race relations does not play as large of a part in this film and it is far more subtle: from the racial hierarchy between the residents and the staff to Lilith's sentimental motivation behind her continuing to work for the Virgil.
But Sokolov has no real interest in offering a film that's a game changer or tries to elevate the genre. "They Will Kill You" keeps it simple and fun, wisely maintaining an engaging, oddball atmosphere that is ferociously intense, vividly fast-paced and visually explosive.
While the film hits all of the familiar beats expected in a bloody action-thriller, what makes "They Will Kill You" really stand out is having an African-American woman as our protagonist. Much like what "Sinners" accomplished by deftly incorporating traumatic African-American historical elements into the long established vampire lore, this film offers a rarely seen focus on a fierce and determined Black female combatant (who learned to fight during her time in prison) able to stand her ground against those trying to stop her from her mission of locating her estranged sister. Race relations does not play as large of a part in this film and it is far more subtle: from the racial hierarchy between the residents and the staff to Lilith's sentimental motivation behind her continuing to work for the Virgil.
But Sokolov has no real interest in offering a film that's a game changer or tries to elevate the genre. "They Will Kill You" keeps it simple and fun, wisely maintaining an engaging, oddball atmosphere that is ferociously intense, vividly fast-paced and visually explosive.
