The stars of the upcoming horror-action-comedy “They Will Kill You” are loving the film’s intensity, ambition, and edge.
In a recent sit-down interview with our own Nakia Monet, “They Will Kill You” stars Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Myha’la, and Heather Graham talked about their latest project, their roles in it, and the importance of a female-led ensemble in a space dominated by men.
The film is a horror-action-comedy that follows a young woman’s journey to stay alive in a deadly cult’s lair.
“They Will Kill You” is a breath of fresh air in a crowded space
Zazie Beetz talked about what inspired her to join the project. She said it was Kirill Sokolov’s creativity, imagination, and the fresh perspective he brought to the project. She said it was a “breath of fresh air” and “fresh, strange, and original in its approach to genre and IP.”
Beetz said she was also inspired by the emotional complexity of her character, including themes of guilt, love, and self-drive.
“When I’m looking for something, I’m after a full package,” she said. “It was fun to dive into the stunt work, but the movie felt like a breath of fresh air.”
Women in a space dominated by men
Patricia Arquette said she was inspired by the film’s balance of action and emotional complexity, especially in a space dominated by men.
“It felt really exciting,” she said. “The little girl in me was thrilled to see this movie, and I want to be part of it; I want this movie to exist.”
She described her character as defined by pain and complexity.
“My character believes she’s protecting what she loves,” she described. “But she doesn’t fully think about how it affects others. She comes into the movie with regret.”
The film centers on several women as protagonists and antagonists, and everything in between, which Graham says is not often done in Hollywood.
“Usually, a movie has men as the central characters and maybe a woman,” Graham pointed out. “So it’s cool for the movie that he wrote five strong women’s roles.”
Beetz also pointed out that the movie’s message was not just for women.
“This movie is about two sisters who find each other again and have to navigate through a cult,” Beetz described. “It’s something that everyone can relate to.”
The cast also touched on the morality of their characters, all of whom were driven by the need to survive.
“I think I understand my character,” Beetz described. “I don’t think it’s justified, but I don’t think she enjoys killing anyone. It’s just something that has to happen.”
She also pointed out that the killings were not just for the sake of killing.
“Whenever someone kills someone else,” Beetz described, “it’s usually for something that happened in the past.”
The film was physically demanding for Graham.
“It was one of the most physically demanding films I have done,” Graham described.
“This is the most stunts I’ve ever had the chance to do in a film,” she said. “We drilled the fights again and again.”
She explained that although she played some scenes herself, such as the crawlspace scene, she was also assisted by stunt performers.
“It was really fun to do that.”
A character that keeps audiences guessing
Myha’la explained that she was attracted to the role of Maria because of the character’s unpredictability and evolution throughout the story.
“I like characters who surprise you,” Myha’la explained. “Characters who contradict themselves and change by the end.”
A film meant to be experienced together.
Although the film has gone all in on the horror and action genres, the actresses highlighted its lighter side and how people can enjoy it.
“I hope people have as much fun as it seems you did,” Myha’la explained. “Please laugh in the theater. Please hoot and holler. Bring your friends. It’s really a fun event.”
Graham explained that the film’s uniqueness was part of its charm, too.
“You haven’t really seen this before,” Graham explained. “It has its own, distinctive vibe.”
The film also conveys a message of hope and rebellion, and Monet explained that it was socially relevant for its commentary on the underdog fighting back against the system.
A genre-blending spectacle
“They Will Kill You,” from New Line Cinema and Nocturna, follows a young woman in the Virgil, a cult-controlled building filled with traps and dark secrets. The film combines brutal action with dark humor in what the studio calls a “blood-soaked, high-octane spectacle.”
The film features an ensemble cast that includes Beetz, Myha’la, Arquette, Graham, Paterson Joseph, and Tom Felton. Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Dan Kagan produced it.
Warner Bros. Pictures will release “They Will Kill You” exclusively in North American theaters on March 27, 2026.
