They Will Kill You | SXSW 2026 Film Review

There are movies that flirt with unpredictability, and then there are movies that fully embrace it—grabbing it by the throat and refusing to let go. They Will Kill You (2026) lives firmly in that second category, a delirious, blood-splattered fever dream that feels driven by instinct, adrenaline, and just a touch of madness, courtesy of director Kirill Sokolov.

A group of cult members, desperate and devoted, find themselves navigating a shifting, almost surreal landscape in search of a necessary sacrifice to fulfill their ritual. Their target: a seemingly lone outsider, Asia Reaves, played by Zazie Beetz. She’s the prey—or at least, that’s what they believe. As alliances fracture and the rules of this world begin to bend, it becomes clear that survival isn’t just about the hunt, but about understanding who actually holds control… and whether the hunters ever had it to begin with.

From the outset, the film signals it’s not interested in playing by conventional rules. Sokolov treats the world like an adult dollhouse—walls feel removable, spaces feel manipulated, and characters appear and disappear as if an unseen force is rearranging everything mid-scene. It’s disorienting, but intentionally so, placing the audience in the same unstable reality as its characters.

There are unmistakable echoes of early, scrappy filmmaking styles—the kind where the camera doesn’t simply observe, but actively participates. Shots whip, crash, and glide with a restless energy that feels both chaotic and deliberate. At times overwhelming, but always aligned with the film’s commitment to excess.

And yes—this is a film that does not hold back. The violence is front and center, with gore that feels less like an addition and more like a defining feature. Blood sprays, pools, and lingers, reinforcing the film’s refusal to soften its edges. For some, this will be a barrier; for others, it will be part of the appeal.

The premise itself is undeniably unconventional, yet the film’s strength comes from how fully it leans into that. Logic often takes a backseat to tone and momentum, but rather than weakening the experience, it creates a sense of unpredictability that carries the film forward.

The ensemble cast commits fully to this heightened world. Zazie Beetz anchors the film as Asia Reaves, bringing a controlled, almost mythic intensity to the role. Patricia Arquette’s Lilith carries a quiet authority, suggesting she may understand more about this world than she lets on. Myha’la gives Maria a sharp unpredictability, while Tom Felton’s Kevin reflects the group’s growing instability. Heather Graham leans into the film’s more abstract tendencies as Sharon, particularly through the camera’s fixation on her eye—transforming it into something symbolic, almost unsettling.

That fixation becomes one of the film’s more memorable visual choices. The repeated close-ups turn her eye into more than just a detail—it becomes a presence. It watches, lingers, and adds to the film’s underlying sense of unease.

Still, the film ultimately belongs to Zazie Beetz. Her performance is both restrained and formidable, grounding the chaos around her while still embracing the film’s heightened tone. Every scene she’s in carries weight, and her presence gives the film a necessary sense of focus.

They Will Kill You isn’t concerned with accessibility. It’s messy, loud, and unapologetically strange, occasionally bordering unhinged. But for those willing to ride its wavelength, it’s an exhilarating reminder that cinema can still feel dangerous, unpredictable, and just a little bit feral. In other words: buckle up, or get out of the way.