Twin Films is the term used to describe the occurrence when two movies release around the same time with similar, or even directly identical, plots. Turner & Hooch and K-9 both released in 1989 and were films about a serious officer being given a dog as a partner. Lambada, and The Forbidden Dance, both came out in1990 and leaned on the popularity of the titular song while presenting themselves as Dirty Dancing knock-offs. In ’96 we got three films about storm chasers. They were Tornado!, Night of the Twisters, and the film you immediately thought of… Twister. Most of the time, only one of the “twin films” gets any sort of following. This is why you know about Scary Movie but maybe never heard about Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth. Both movies came out in 2000 and were horror comedies that revolved around a Ghostface killer, which made them both SCREAM parodies. After seeing Ready or Not 2: Here I Come earlier this month, I was certain that the release of They Will Kill You would give 2026 its first pair of Twin Films. Both films are essentially about a woman who has to survive a night while being hunted by satanic cultists. The question now is simple…Does this twin film stand on its own, or will it get overshadowed by the hit sequel that released just weeks prior?
I have to admit, I thought it would be a fairly similar movie to Ready or Not2: Here I Come, but I was happy to be proven wrong. While the movie features a contentious sisterhood, gratuitous violence, topical plot elements, and a time frame in which cultists are hunting our protagonists, that’s where the similarities end. The Ready or Not films are a bit more grounded than They Will Kill You. While both films have demonic imagery, They Will Kill You runs with it. You can expect the violence of an Evil Dead film, with the aggression of SIZU and camera work of Kill Bill. You’ll see supernatural elements, such as a wandering eyeball, that help differentiate this film from anything that came before it. Yes, it’s a twin film, but it has an attitude and personality that’s all its own. You can expect far more carnage, harder hitting combat, and a more upbeat approach to the idea of being hunted by demon worshipers. While I see Ready or Not 2as a perfect sequel, I see They Will Kill You as a fantastic standalone title.
Zazie Beetz stars Asia Reaves, a woman who’s trying to find her sister after years of being separated while she was incarcerated. This adds a comedy horror to Zazie’s already impressive line up of genre work. Deadpool 2, Joker, Atlanta or even the recent Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die have all proven her talent and range, so I was optimistic when I saw the trailer for They Will Kill You. Her sister is played by Myha’la, who’s known for her roles in Industry, Modern Love and Premature. They Will Kill You marks her first step into the world of horror comedy. The rest of the cast is a stacked ensemble of experienced talent that features the likes of Patricia Arquette, Paterson Joseph, and Tom Felton. Naturally, I have to take this moment to shout out one of my favorite actors, James Remar, who plays the voice coming from a severed pig’s head. All of this skill comes together to bring Kirill Sokolov’s story to life. This is the first western release for this Russian writer and director, who scripted They Will Kill You alongside Alex Livak who’s small resume includes 2010’s Predators and 2011’s The Three Musketeers. With Alex’s help, Kirill finally gets to bring his cinematic exploits to American audiences. Inspired by such creators as Martin Scorsese, Park Chan-Wood, and the previously referenced Quentin Tarantino. His inspiration has been front and center since he released his premiere movie, Why Don’t You Just Die!. Expect dark comedy and plenty of dramatic camera zooms in anything Kirill Sokolov may release moving forward.
With a killer soundtrack, fantastic visuals, a charming anti-hero protagonist, and a seemingly endless run of cultists to carve through, They Will Kill You delivers an exciting and rewarding trip through a horrific scenario that’ll make you laugh and want for more. When I said Ready or Not didn’t need a sequel, and then found myself pleasantly surprised with its follow-up, I decided to not be so pessimistic moving forward. I genuinely look forward to whatever follows They Will Kill You, whether it’s a sequel, spin off, spiritual successor, or just something fresh from a director I’ll be keeping an eye on moving forward. With Kirill Sokolov’s western debut upending any of my expectations in the best possible ways, I’m sure there will be more to enjoy from the creator in the coming years. This is, of course, if They Will Kill You can survive being mislabeled as nothing more than a knock-off. The story’s originality mixed with cinematic familiarity creates a comfortable atmosphere for fans of dark and horror comedies, allowing them to enjoy something surprisingly fresh. Don’t let this one slip past you. Be sure to catch it in theaters now so you can say you saw it on the big screen later on when it becomes cult classic. I’m calling it now, time will look back fondly on They Will Kill You.
