Chris and Jessica discuss the relentless pacing of the film, where Asia's fight for survival becomes a thrilling game of cat and mouse, filled with gore and unexpected twists. Zazie Beetz's performance as Asia is highlighted for its depth, showcasing her character's resilience and emotional struggles, particularly in her complicated reunion with her sister. The hosts delve into the film's striking visuals, from the opulent yet creepy hotel design to the stunning cinematography that enhances the tension throughout.
With a haunting score by Carlos Rafael Rivera that lingers long after the credits roll, the film's technical aspects receive high praise. However, Chris and Jessica acknowledge that this wild ride isn't for the faint-hearted or those averse to over-the-top gore. They conclude that *They Will Kill You* is a fun, gory experience that caters to a specific audience, ultimately awarding it a score of 7 out of 10. Join Chris and Jessica as they unpack this outrageous slasher flick that delivers exactly what horror action comedy fans crave.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Chris: How about this for a thought? What if a hotel
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 wasn't just a place to stay, but a literal
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 temple for a Satanic cult?
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 That's the premise we're diving into today.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 And let me tell you, it's as wild as it
00:00:13 --> 00:00:13 sounds.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:15 Jessica: Oh, I already know where this is going and
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 I'm excited. This movie sounds like it's
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 going to be a ride.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 Chris: It really is. The movie is called they Will
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 Kill youl and it's this blood soaked, high
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 octane horror action comedy that doesn't hold
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 back. It's one of those films that's
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 so over the top, you kind of have to respect
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 it for just going all in.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 Jessica: Okay, so let's set the stage. What's the
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 basic premise here?
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 Chris: Sure. The story starts with Asia
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Reeves, played by Zaizie Beets,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 and her younger sister Maria. They're
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 escaping from their abusive father in the
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 pouring rain. It's tense, it's
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 emotional, and you can feel the stakes right
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 away. They make it to a convenience store,
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 but their father tracks them down.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 Asia ends up shooting him, but he survives
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 and things spiral from there.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Jessica: And this is just the opening.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 Chris: Just the opening. After that,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 Asia ends up in prison while her sister is
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 taken back by their father. Fast forward
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 10 years and Asia is out of prison.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 Trying to rebuild her life in New York City.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 She gets a job as a maid at this historic
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 high rise hotel called the Virgil.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 Jessica: Let me guess, this isn't your average
00:01:31 --> 00:01:32 hotel.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 Chris: Not even close. The Virgil is basically a
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 fortress for a Satanic cult. The
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 guests there have made some kind of deal with
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 the devil and they need to make human
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 sacrifices to keep up their end of the
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 bargain. Asia, unfortunately, becomes their
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 next target.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 Jessica: Oh, of course she does. But I'm, um, guessing
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 she's not exactly the type to just roll over
00:01:53 --> 00:01:54 and let it happen.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 Chris: Not at all. Asia is a fighter,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 literally. She's learned to fend for herself
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 in prison and she's not going down without a
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 fight. What makes it even more intense is
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 that the guests are immortal. So no matter
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 how much damage she does, they just keep
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 coming back.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 Jessica: That sounds exhausting for her and for the
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 audience.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 Chris: It is, but in the best way. The
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 movie is relentless and that's where the fun
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 comes in. It's this constant game of cat and
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 mouse, but with a lot more blood and severed
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 limbs.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 Jessica: And Zeze Beets, how is she in this?
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 Chris: She's phenomenal. She carries the movie.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 Asia is tough, resourceful and determined.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 But Zezi also brings a lot of depth to her.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 You really feel for her, especially when it
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 comes to her relationship with her sister.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 Jessica: Speaking of the sister, does Asia ever find
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 her?
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Chris: She does, but I don't want to give too much
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 away. Let's hm just say their reunion is
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 complicated. There's a lot of guilt and
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 regret on Asia's part, and it adds an
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 emotional layer to all the chaos.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 Jessica: So it's not just mindless violence.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 There's some heart in there too.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 Chris: Definitely. Don't get me wrong, the violence
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 is front and center. But the movie does take
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 the time to explore Asia's motivations and
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 her relationships. It's not just about
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 survival, it's about redemption.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 Jessica: Okay, but let's talk about the visuals.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 From what I've heard, this movie is pretty
00:03:26 --> 00:03:26 striking.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 Chris: Oh, absolutely. The production design is
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 fantastic. The Virgil is this creepy,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 opulent hotel that feels like it has a
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 million secrets. The cinematography by
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 Isaacman Bauman is stunning. And the way they
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 use lighting and shadows really adds to the
00:03:43 --> 00:03:43 tension.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 Jessica: And the score.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 Chris: Oh, the score by Carlos Rafael Rivera is
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 incredible. It's intense and haunting and
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 really sets the mood. It's one of those
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 scores that stays with you after the movie's
00:03:55 --> 00:03:55 over.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 Jessica: So it sounds like the technical aspects are
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 all top notch.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Chris: They m really are. This is a movie that knows
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 how to create atmosphere. It's stylish, it's
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 bold, and it's not afraid to go all in.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 Jessica: But let's be real, this isn't going to be for
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 everyone, right?
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Chris: Oh, definitely not. This is a movie for a
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 very specific audience. If you're squeamish
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 or not into over the top gore, this probably
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 isn't the movie for you. But if you can
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 appreciate a well choreographed, deliberately
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 outrageous slasher flick, then you're in for
00:04:28 --> 00:04:28 a treat.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 Jessica: And the writing, does it hold up?
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Chris: For the most part, yes. The script by
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 Alex Litvak and director, uh, Kirill Sokolov
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 has its moments of cleverness and there are a
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 few surprises along the way. It's not
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 Shakespeare, but, uh, it doesn't need to be.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Jessica: So, final verdict? Should I see this
00:04:48 --> 00:04:48 movie?
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 Chris: If you're into horror action comedies and
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 don't mind a lot of blood and guts, then yes,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 absolutely. It's a wild ride. And Zaze
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 beats is worth the price of admission alone.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 Jessica: And if I'm not into that kind
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 Chris: of thing, then this probably isn't the
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 movie for you. But hey, not every
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 movie has to be for everyone.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 Jessica: Fair enough. So what's the
00:05:12 --> 00:05:12 takeaway here?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Chris: They will kill you is a film that knows its
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 audience and delivers exactly what they want.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 It's gory. It's fun, and it's got a strong
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 lead performance. If you go in with the right
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 mindset, you'll have a blast.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Jessica: And if not, well, there are always other
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 movies.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 Chris: Exactly. But for those who are into this kind
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 of thing, It's a solid 7 out of 10.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Jessica: All right, I think I've got my answer.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 Chris: Good. Now, are you ready for the next movie
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 on our list?
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 Jessica: Bring it on.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Chris: You've been listening to movies first
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 player. You can also stream on demand at
00:05:52 --> 00:05:52 bytes.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 Jessica: Com.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 Chris: This has been another quality podcast
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 production from Bytes.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:57 Jessica: Com. Um.