EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesBoy Kills WorldBill Skarsgård’s new bloody action film is a great video game movie - even though it isn’t actually based on oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesBoy Kills WorldBill Skarsgård’s new bloody action film is a great video game movie - even though it isn’t actually based on oneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Signature Entertainment)
This week a new film enters this ring: director Moritz Mohr’s feature directorial debutBoy Kills World, which has all the hallmarks of a great video game movie. However, the film isn’t actually based on one…
Leveling up
(Image credit: Signature Entertainment)
However, the film is so much more than a simple video game homage, as the fact that Boy Kills World isactuallya video game movie is woven into its DNA. This is something Mohr has acknowledged,telling Total Film magazine earlier this year: “I love old kung-fu movies. I love Asian cinema. I play a lot of video games and I read a lot of manga. Anime is a big influence. But also shitty little Saturday-morning cartoons that I love growing up.”
Big Screen SpotlightShining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday
Big Screen Spotlight
Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday
Shining a light on the under-the-radar theatrical releases that you need to know about, with a new article every Friday
In a way, Boy Kills World can be broken down into levels, as our protagonist goes from scene to scene, enemy to enemy, working his way through them until he reaches the final boss level – which, for him, is matriarch Hilda van der Koy (Famke Janssen), who he believes is the person responsible for slaughtering his family. Having leveled up along the way, Boy believes he is ready for the climactic battle, but like with the best video games, there is no straightforward ‘game over’, as the film has some surprising twists in store (that we won’t spoil here).
Choose your weapon
(Image credit: Signature Entertainment)
As Boy takes on these adversaries, a ‘choose your weapon’ aspect is introduced. Whilst our hero is good at fighting with his fists, he also searches the rooms he enters for anything that can be used as a weapon, picking up various objects to tackle his enemies in the most brutal ways imaginable. Let’s just say I’ll never look at a carrot in the same way again, and cinema’s recent fondness for murdering people with cheese graters – following the likes ofEvil Dead Rise– continues (so much blood).
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(Image credit: MGM)
At times, there’s also a ‘choose your fighter’ element, as the perspective shifts from Boy to the mysterious June 27 (Happy Death Daystar Jessica Rothe), one of the van der Koy family’s most fearsome fighters who immediately makes a striking impression sporting a yellow motorbike jacket and helmet. Stepping into her shoes and essentially adding another playable character for certain brawls helps keep the action fresh and dynamic – a pretty smart choice from Mohr.
Game over?
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
In perhaps an unexpected turn of events, the video game industry clearly took note of all the above and Boy Kills World has actually spawned its own video game. Releasing on the same day as the film isSuper Dragon Punch Force 3, an original fighting game designed to be a sequel to the one featured in the movie (which is titled Super Dragon Punch Force 2, of course). Available on Windows PC and via mobile platforms, you’ll spot several familiar characters in the game including Boy and June 27, who can take each other on in brutal battles. And given how exhilarating the action of the film is, why wouldn’t you want to try this?
If, like me, you are ready to play once the credits have rolled on Boy Kills World, the good news is that it isn’t game over thanks to Super Dragon Punch Force 3. Choose your fighter, player one.
Boy Kills World is out now in US theaters and UK cinemas. Check out our exclusive interview with director Mohr where we discussedwhy it was always planned for an R-rating,what Skarsgård brought to the film, andhow it’s different to John Wick.
For more on what else you should be watching at the cinema, be sure to check out the rest of ourBig Screen Spotlight series.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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3
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”