“So violent that it could even make Quentin Tarantino say: ‘Dude, you might want to dial it back a notch or three.'”
A “bonkers” action comedy flick that is splitting viewers right down the middle is our pick from the ongoing Apple film sale.
The movie is titled Boy Kills World and stars Bill Skarsgård (IT) as a man named Boy who vows revenge after his family is murdered.
The culprit: Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen, X-Men), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty, who also left Boy deaf and voiceless.
“Driven by his inner voice (provided by H. Jon Benjamin, Bob’s Burgers), one which he co-opted from his favourite childhood video game, Boy trains with a mysterious shaman (Yayan Ruhian, The Raid) to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents,” the plot synopsis reads.
Produced by legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies), Boy Kills World’s cast also includes Andrew Koji (Bullet Train), Brett Gelman (Stranger Things), Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), Michelle Dockery (The Gentlemen), Isaiah Mustafa (Cross) and Sharlto Copley (District 9).
First released last year, the movie has divided audiences – with some finding its over-the-top style and ultra-violence too much to tolerate.
Many others, however, have commended it – singling out Skarsgård’s wordless performance, the film’s dark comedy and its action set pieces for praise.
You can read a sample of reviews from critics in the latter category right here:
The Daily Beast: “A high-octane action extravaganza sure to satiate genre fans’ delirious bloodlust.”
The Guardian: “Skarsgård is a treat in the role; the character is deaf and mute, so his performance approaches something of a lethal Buster Keaton.”
Houston Chronicle: “As a feature-film debut for Moritz Mohr, it’s an impressively kinetic calling card with a head-slamming, skin-shredding climax so violent that it could even make Quentin Tarantino say: ‘Dude, you might want to dial it back a notch or three.'”
Mark Kermode: “It’s brash, violent fun.”
RogerEbert.com: “A joyously conceived series of action sequences designed to top the one that came before.”
Variety: “It’s a depraved vision, yet I got caught up in its kick-ass revenge-horror pizzazz, its disreputable commitment to what it was doing.”
Where to Watch
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Boy Kills World is available to buy on Apple TV+ for the low price of €1.99. For more information, click here.
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