Zazie Beetz Delivers Ferocious Performance in Latest Action Thriller, ‘They Will Kill You’
Zazie Beetz is generating significant buzz for her role in the upcoming action thriller, They Will Kill You, which premiered at SXSW on Tuesday night. The film, directed by Kirill Sokolov, follows an ex-con who takes a job as a housekeeper in a New York City high-rise harboring a dark secret: a satanic cult. Critics have lauded Beetz’s performance, praising her dedication to the action sequences and physical commitment to the role.
A High-Octane Plot and Impressive Cast
In They Will Kill You, Beetz plays Asia Reaves, who accepts a housekeeping position at The Virgil, a century-aged apartment building populated by New York City’s elite. Yet, her motives are far from simple, as she searches for her long-lost sister, Maria (Myha’la), and uncovers the building’s sinister history. The film features a supporting cast including Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette.
Critical Reception: A “Gonzo, Gruesome, Gutsy” Thrill Ride
Early reviews of They Will Kill You have been mixed, but generally positive, with many critics singling out Beetz’s performance as a standout. Chase Hutchinson of IGN awarded the film an 8 out of 10, calling it “a gonzo, gruesome, gutsy little gem” and praising the choreography and camerawork. Hutchinson noted the film’s electrifying action and relentless pace, stating it’s “action cinema where bodies and limbs fly all over.”
Zachary Lee of The Wrap described Beetz as embodying “ferocity,” although Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting called her an “unstoppable force of nature.” Navarro highlighted the director’s striking composition and dedication to practical stunts, stating the film delivers a “riotously great time.”
However, some critics found the film’s excessive gore and lack of thematic depth overwhelming. Katie Rife of IndieWire noted the film’s initial excitement gave way to numbness, while Siddhant Adlakha of Variety acknowledged Beetz’s commitment but ultimately found the film exhausting and derivative.
Release Date and Audience Anticipation
They Will Kill You opens in theaters on Friday, March 27, alongside other horror releases like Undertone and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 73% as of its release, the film is poised to attract audiences seeking a high-octane, action-packed thriller.