Zazie Beetz has been a scene-stealer for over a decade, from her Emmy-nominated turn in Atlanta to her roles in Deadpool 2 and Joker. But when she finally landed her first major lead role in 2026's They Will Kill You, the film barely made a dent at the box office, earning just $10 million domestically. Now, thanks to a second life on HBO Max, this bloody action-comedy is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Currently the third most-watched movie on the streaming platform in the US, They Will Kill You is a wild, Kill Bill-inspired ride that was unfairly dismissed by early comparisons to Ready or Not. If you skipped it in theaters, now's the time to catch up.
Not Your Average Cult Thriller
The film's initial box office struggles were partly due to its trailer, which made it look like a Ready or Not clone. Both movies feature a young woman trapped in a mansion with a wealthy, Satan-worshipping cult. But They Will Kill You is far more than that. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, the film blends kinetic action with dark humor, drawing heavily from Quentin Tarantino's playbook.
The story follows Asia (Beetz) and her sister Maria (Myha'la), who flee their abusive father. After a tragic turn, Asia ends up in prison. A decade later, she's released and sets out to find her sister. Her search leads her not to a mansion, but to a massive New York City hotel called The Virgil. Posing as a maid, she infiltrates the building and soon finds herself battling a deadly cult led by Patricia Arquette's Lily Woodhouse.
A Tarantino-Inspired Bloodbath
The cult expects an easy victim, but Asia is anything but. The fight scenes are highly choreographed, with Beetz wielding a sword and taking on foes played by Heather Graham and Tom Felton. The film's style evokes Kill Bill, but Beetz wanted her character's fighting to feel raw and unpolished. As she told Collider, 'I think some of the kung fu, samurai influence, the sword influence, definitely, was different for her. I think also being intentionally a little bit messy.'
Like Kill Bill's Beatrix Kiddo, Asia is a strong, lonely woman who refuses to give up. Her sister is all she has left, and that emotional core makes her a hero worth rooting for.
Something Truly Unique
What sets They Will Kill You apart from other 'eat-the-rich' thrillers is its supernatural twist. Without spoiling too much, the cult isn't easy to take down, and the final act features a confrontation with the Devil himself in an unforgettable form. It's a gory, chaotic ride that races to the finish with one frenzied scene after another.
For fans of subversive thrillers, this is a must-watch. And if you're looking for more, check out our list of the most subversive thriller movies ever made. Or dive into another streaming gem like Emmy Rossum's 'Furious' on Hulu.
