‘Boy Kills World’ Is Absolutely Outrageous For All The Right Reasons
Written by Nikhil Mohan
Courtesy of Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions
Produced by Sam Raimi and directed by the industry’s latest visionary Moritz Mohr, comes the most unusual, bombastic, yet sincere film of the year. For some, ‘Boy Kills World’ could be seen as almost too intoxicating to sit through. But I disagree. Though this film is filled with exhilarating, high-octane action, it also has a personal undertone that many action films seem to be missing.
Bill Skarsgård evidently got in phenomenal shape, as his character Boy is highly trained and seeks to avenge his murdered family. Straight forward, right? Not quite. The truth is, no matter how you perceive this film going in, it will subvert your expectations entirely — whether that be good or bad.
The film is carried by Skarsgård’s gripping physical performance and hilarious internal monologue, as Boy is deaf but lets his imagination run wild. His internal voice, which frequently delivers both sarcastic and hilarious comments throughout, is provided by H. Jon Benjamin — known for his animated work on TV shows such as Bob’s Burgers and Archer.
As we become infused with his headspace, we’re introduced to our antagonist’s number two; June 27, played by Jessica Rothe. She’s a perfect match in physicality and emotional range for Bill Skarsgård to play off.
The editing by Lucian Barnard is nothing short of impeccable for a complex, batshit action film. Every moment has its necessary place and the story unfolds as naturally as it should. There’s no fat on this film.
Action aside, the strongest points in this film come from the two central performances by Rothe and Skarsgård, as we come to understand both protagonist and antagonist in deeper ways than initially expected.
With strong comic book influences, Mohr’s project can best be compared to the aesthetics of ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ meets ‘Kill Bill’ meets ‘Kick-Ass.’ In other words, the movie is bonkers!
That being said, the frequent flashbacks to fill the gaps in Boy’s story could prove to be disorienting to some, though each one provides information that progresses our character in the present.
As we move into the final act, the tone shifts from a comedy-action to a drama-action, and the mood turns into a more serious outing. It feels justified due to the nature of Boy’s realizations, but others may be negatively impacted by too much of a tone swing.
This film is very much a video game, comic book, and bizzare action-fantasy come to life — and it’s entirely original.
‘Boy Kills World’ is a fantastic directorial debut by Moritz Mohr, and that’s a name to look out for in the future.
Our score: ★★★★
(out of 5 stars)
“Boy Kills World” specifics: A fever dream action film that follows Boy, a deaf person with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, he is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death.
CREW: Director: Moritz Mohr | Screenplay: Tyler Burton Smith, Arend Remmers | Cinematography: Peter Matjasko | Editor: Lucian Barnard | Music: Ludvig Forssell.
STARRING: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Famke Janssen, Sharlto Copley, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Andrew Koji.
PRODUCTION: Nthibah Pictures, Hammerstone Studios, Raimi Productions, Vertigo Entertainment.
2023 - Action/Thriller - 1h 51m
