They Will Kill You’s outrageous gore will unlock a new fear in audiences

If you like decapitations, grisly piles of flesh and body parts and near fountains of blood then They Will Kill You is the horror film for you.

Even if that sounds a bit much, don’t discount it just yet as the violence andgruesome gore is handled with a light – but very comically dark – touch.

From the (I’m sure he’ll have no objections to me saying this) twisted mind of director and co-writer Kirill Sokolov, They Will Kill You mashes up a home invasion thriller with a haunted hotel, creepy cult and lashings of body horror.

It also boasts entertaining and beautifully choreographed and filmed fight scenes as our heroine Asia (Zazie Beetz) fights for her life and kicks arse against the malicious forces of grand art deco hotel the Virgil.

Arriving at the atmospherically frozen-in-time hotel as its latest hired help by the manager (Patricia Arquette, sporting a slightly deranged accent that might be Irish), it quickly becomes apparent that a lot more is expected of Asia than simply thorough dusting and neat hospital corners.

Her very first night and she is fighting for her life as members of a demonic cult invade her room through the fridge and air conditioning vents when the door won’t do, unlocking a new fear for us all to inconveniently remember when we’re next checking in somewhere.

Sadly, the warning of the film’s title that’s been written on the bathroom mirror has been steamed away by the time she finishes her shower and climbs into bed, while the audience is left on tenterhooks, awaiting the attack – which starts with a hideous licking of her ankle.

Luckily though, Asia didn’t come to play, sporting the finest badass samurai moves, as per Sokolov’s obvious inspiration in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Unluckily for her, these cult members are very, very hard to kill.

They Will Kill You is designed to entertain, shock and make you laugh – why else include the protagonist punching a child in the face, an exploding head or quite so many headless bodies stumbling around?

But if you’re looking for anything more, you may struggle.

Sokolov’s first English-language movie is an homage to so many horrors and thrillers that have gone before it that it’s unlikely to make much of a mark in years to come as its own distinct piece of cinema.

It’s style over substance – and sometimes the style of others – although just how far Sokolov is willing to push things shows promise for the future.

While a pleasingly brisk 94 minutes, as the gory rampage continues things do become a little sillier and more repetitive, especially when the entity that’s being worshipped, and the source of the cult’s power, is revealed.

Beetz is excellent at the heart of the film, the sheer power of her performance keeping it going through even the weaker scenes, while Harry Potter star Tom Felton and Heather Graham get the most to do as two of the cult members after her, with Felton in particular getting to show off his comedy chops.

A committed Paterson Joseph also convinces far more in his American accent as hotel staffer Ray, who offers a little inside help to Asia, even if his motivations are too easily explained away, while Myha’la is a welcome addition as Asia’s sister in a part that will soon be too small for her profile, post TV hit Industry.

They Will Kill You will undoubtedly tickle and satisfy the sickos, as well as anybody looking for a relentlessly bloody good time with old-school practical effects.

And given the higher profile of horror recently thanks to the successes of Sinners, The Substance, Weapons and the like, it’s been released at the perfect time.

They Will Kill You releases in UK and US cinemas on Friday, March 27.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.