Boy Kills World
⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)
In our world that is a mixture of computer generation and video game realities, recent film productions have become an amalgamation of these worlds. Boy Kills World has the look and feel of this realm that incorporates violence and comedy that would appeal to those who spend their lives immersed in this space.
Bill Skarsgard (IT) embodies the physical aspect of the deaf and mute lead named Boy, while his inner voice is H. Jon Benjamin (Archer, Bob’s Burgers). He has been trained in the jungles of a post-apocalyptic community by the viciously motivated mentor, Shaman (Yayan Ruhian). Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen) is the tyrannical leader of their world and holds an annual culling of her enemies that is televised for the city to see how she holds onto her power. As the boy ages, he is trained to have one purpose: to assassinate Hilda and her family. As tensions escalate during the upcoming culling ceremony, the door opens for the young assassin to fulfil his destiny if he can get through the legions of security surrounding the Van Der Koy family.
Viewers may experience a familiar tone to the storyline; the references to The Hunger Games, Squid Game, John Wick and even the recently released Monkey Man are inevitable. Moritz Mohr’s debut directorial film has a cheeky originality to it as the voice of Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin) comes through the thoughts of Bill Skarsgard’s character. This comedic side to Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers’ screenplay delivers a levity that attempts to offset the extreme on-screen brutality. Yet, each humorous character is short-lived and isn't around long enough for us to care about them or what they bring to the party. This film sports a fantastic cast that includes Michelle Dockery, Famke Janssen, Sharlto Copley, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, and Andrew Koji. Still, none are given the screen time they deserve, and most would be chalked up to being a bloody cameo at best. This leaves Skarsgard to carry the weight of this whole production to the twisted end, and he does, but many people must die as he strives to achieve his destiny.
Boy Kills World has all the elements associated with adapting a video game into a cinematic release without benefiting from being a video game. Yet, this semi-original storyline that carries shadows of other films could have been half the length and delivered the same PTSD effect. A tale that may resonate with those armchair warriors who live their desensitised existence in the basements of their parents' homes eating macaroons, but one that will be forgettable for the rest of the world.
