There’s a great deal of nous in crafting a consistently effective horror-comedy, and “They Will Kill You” gets the job done in piecemeal fashion. It’s imperfect, but zany and hectic enough to sustain mild interest. The Kirill Sokolov helmed picture actually starts rather darkly, truth be told. Tonally, the opening sequence is decidedly grim and dramatic before things swing towards the bloodily absurd as the opening act takes flight. Asia Reaves (a ferociously energetic performance by an impressive Zazie Beetz) and her younger sister Maria are fleeing their abusive father in the midst of a heartily bucketing rainstorm. Their unavailing efforts to evade his clutches fail however when Maria is ultimately snatched back. This isn’t before a tense confrontation in a convenience store transpires as the weather closes in.
The film then jumps 10 years in time to a present-day Asia, roiling with guilt and a sort of deep-buried revenge after she is separated from her sister (disconnected for a decade), arriving at the Neon-lit, imposing Virgil. The Virgil is a century-old hotel with sinister vibes and an oddly detached staff. She’s been tipped off to the potential presence of Maria within the multi-storeyed structure, and naturally she’s determined to find out if her estranged sis is indeed housed there. She is almost immediately greeted by the eccentric Lilith Woodhouse (a well-cast Patricia Arquette), who stresses the age and prestige of the building before directing the wary traveller to her sleeping quarters. Arquette, who featured in a slew of interesting ’90s neo-noirs before taking on the icy Harmony Cobel in “Severance,” effortlessly imbues Woodhouse with a sort of superior knowingness, and interest in what comes next is generated quickly.
The Dead Don’t Die
What comes next is a bit of a mixed bag. Asia is promptly assailed by two masked figures that very night, however she just as quickly demonstrates her dab hand at fending off cowled would-be-killers by incapacitating them. But they don’t really die. The hotel’s employees kind of regenerate and resume their pursuit of Asia only slightly miffed at being held up. This is because the Virgil is a temple to the devil and all its permanent occupants are immortal through providing never-ending sacrifices. They also indulge in an assortment of hedonistic activities in various rooms throughout the building because, as one of them points out, immortality can get “boring.” It’s reasonably funny to begin with, but the conceit loses its lustre a bit as the movie marches on.
The writing in “The Will Kill You” is tight in that it serves as a platform for its actors to really go for when it comes to the action, and much of the comedic stuff is purely physical. It’s again a testament to the commitment of the ensemble on hand that much if not all of it works. We later discover, as chases through ceiling vents by headless reanimated bodies ensue, that Maria (Myha’la) is indeed holed up in the mansion, but she has developed an almost familial bond with the Virgil’s workers. A kind of Stockholm Syndrome perhaps, that ultimately weakens. It isn’t explicitly revealed, but maybe her renewed sense of belonging can be tied to the fact that she likely had to endure constant and ongoing struggle throughout childhood—especially with her sister absent. It’s a notion that perhaps could’ve been expanded upon further.
Repetition Offset by Bizarre Ideas
Nonetheless, “They Will Kill You” barrels ahead at a breakneck pace and throws an awful lot at the audience over the course of its fairly brief run-time. The gonzo finale features a talking pig’s head as a kind of conduit for the devil, and if the voice seems recognisable, it’s because it is. The menacing swine is voiced by James Remar (“It: Welcome to Derry”) and the effect is impactful. Together, Asia and Maria try to outwit the Virgil’s relentless attempts to ensnare them once they reconcile, and this is an affecting plot point within the gaudy maelstrom. Some of the support players such as Tom Felton and a welcome Heather Graham are a tad underutilised, but Paterson Joseph as Lilith’s jaded, oppositional husband (who ultimately assists Asia) brings a lot to the role in a humorous sense.
Sometimes the film can feel a little monotonous. It’s good that the film’s occasionally repetitive nature is often offset by its genuinely bizarre ideas, such as a disembodied, surveilling eyeball tumbling after Beetz to keep tabs on her movements. If you’re seeking a terrifying film that engages with cults, then “House of the Devil” may be more up your alley. But for a fun, if slight, horror-comedy check-in, “They Will Kill You” has a bit to recommend. While not quite as darkly raucous as Osgood Perkins’ underrated “The Monkey,” there’s more than a bit of “Evil Dead”-ness to this one that keeps things brisk, energetic and sporadically amusing. Plus, talented Australian character actor Angus Sampson shows up as a well-meaning PI, and the ending proves satisfyingly triumphant.
