Boy Kills World
Boy Kills World
Starring Bill Skarsgard, H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Rothe, Famke Janssen
Directed by Moritz Mohr
After his mother and younger sister were murdered publicly by the evil Hilda van der Koy (Famke Janssen) as a way to squash any rebellion, Boy (Bill Skarsgard) is rendered deaf-mute, and is taken in by a Shaman (Yayan Ruhian) who spends the next few years training him for one purpose: to kill Hilda van der Koy. Without a voice, Boy adopts an inner monologue voiced by his favorite video game (H. Jon Benjamin) as he embarks on a journey of revenge. Along the way he joins a resistance, sees visions of his dead sister, and leaves literal trails of blood in his path as he dispatches the goons and henchmen of the family before coming into contact with the family itself - Hilda, her sister Melanie (Michelle Dockery), her husband Glen (Sharlto Copley), and their brother Gideon (Brett Gelman) - as well as the mysterious assassin June 27 (Jessica Rothe). Will Boy get his vengeance, or will he allow the ghosts of the past to prevent his ultimate goal from coming true?
"Boy Kills World" really doesn't do much to re-vitalize the action genre, and it doesn't need to. It's perfectly fine in its lane, and supplies the violence, laughs, and emotions from start to finish that keeps you riveted to the screen. The action is stylish, fast-paced, and chaotic, which is a good way to describe this film as a whole: chaotic. From the "Hunger Games" style dystopian future where a brutal family rules the land with unquestioned authority (and when they are questioned, those that ask the questions are taken and thrown into "The Culling," which is essentially "Hunger Games" if it was sponsored by a breakfast cereal) to one man's quest for revenge and some nice turns along the way, "Boy Kills World" is never dull or boring, but vibrant, exciting, and pulse-pounding.
The film's unique premise is that the hero is deaf-mute, meaning he can't speak or hear, which is two things that you should probably have if you plan to be a successful killer. Yet this doesn't deter the Boy from his goal, and Bill Skarsgard plays him with perfection: he's built like a brick house, he's agile like a cat, and most importantly he shows his feelings through facial expressions that are downright gut-rolling, especially when he's given praise he doesn't deserve by an overzealous freedom fighter.
Yet the Boy isn't completely silent, as he's gotten an inner monologue voiced by his favorite video game, and the perfect casting of H. Jon Benjamin as that voice is chef's kiss inspired. Benjamin is one of the best voice actors out there, voicing the lead roles in not one but two successful animated series: Bob in "Bob's Burgers" and Sterling Archer in "Archer." Although he doesn't change his voice for the roles, he makes Bob a more pathetic character because he's a struggling burger joint owner with an eclectic family and voices Archer with an over-inflated ego that's not deserved because although Archer is "the best spy in the world," he really isn't. It's Archer's voice that Benjamin uses for "Boy Kills World," and while it's hard sometimes to distinguish it from its own series, his deadpan delivery is impeccable and will have you laughing out loud.
First time director Moritz Mohr (whom also wrote the script, meaning this is...deep breath...an actual ORIGINAL IDEA THAT WORKS!) takes notes from the likes of Bay and Greengrass in his filming style, but doesn't go to their extremes where you have absolutely no idea what's happening on screen. While the action is fast paced, it's slow enough to get everything that's happening, and fully appreciate it. The kills are numerous and inventive, as one of Boy's weapons is a literal punching gun, and he fights more than just nameless goons - he also fights breakfast cereal mascots, and one particular dude who just doesn't seem to want to die. Then there's his tete-a-tete with the motorcycle helmeted assassin June 27, played perfectly by "Happy Death Day" star Jessica Rothe. These two are formidable in their fighting styles, and it's a feast for the action eyes to see them go toe-to-toe.
The supporting characters are filled with veteran actors who either reside fully in the action genre or blend in like chameleons from their other work. "The Raid" star Yayan Ruhian stars as the typical Shaman who trains Boy at an early age, while "District 9" star Sharlto Copley plays Glen as the male version of Elizabeth Banks's character in "The Hunger Games" as the host of The Culling who travels from district to district. "X-Men" star Famke Janssen is as diabolically delicious as ever as the antagonist Hida van der Koy, while both Michelle Dockery and Brett Gelman enter the action genre from their more memorable roles in drama "Downton Abbey" and horror series "Stranger Things" respectively, and blend into the film amazingly. Together with Skarsgard and Roth (as well as the voice of Benjamin), you got a top-notch cast in an all-out warzone of a movie that's absolutely bonkers and hilariously violent.
Combining intense action with a bonkers idea and inspired casting, "Boy Kills World" is more than just a typical vengeance-filled action spectacle, but one that is chock full of humor, heart, and heads rolling.
The Score: A+
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