For action film enthusiasts, Boy Kills World is a thrilling ride. It delivers intense action and gore, all wrapped in a stylish package with a dash of dark humor. However, the script must provide the unique elements that would elevate this movie above others in its genre.
Bill Skarsgård stars as Boy, a young man driven by vengeance who wishes to take down the people responsible for the death of his mother and sister and also those who robbed him of his ability to hear and speak. The story takes place in a dystopian community where the Van Der Koy family rules with an iron fist and regularly cleanses their society of any threats to their rule. After Boy’s removal from his family, he gets taken in by a revolutionary known as Shaman (Yayan Ruhian), a skilled warrior who shares Boy’s desire to destroy Van Der Koy’s reign.
Written by Arend Remmers, Moritz Mohr, and Tyler Burton Smith and directed by Moritz Mohr, Boy Kills World is a very entertaining movie. The humor, action, and insanity of this story mostly work well. Still, the realization of the overall story could be better, and most of the surprises are predictable. There is one twist I did not see coming but should have caught it. Nevertheless, I had a good time, but this movie is an example of video game-inspired junk food.
The cast of Boy Kills World truly shines, bringing their characters to life with their dedicated performances. Yayan Ruhian, in particular, is a standout as Boy’s mentor and surrogate father figure, portraying a challenging yet essential role in preparing his student for the challenges ahead. Quinn Copeland also impresses, adding a sweet and amusing touch as the ‘ghost’ of Boy’s lost sister.
I also rather enjoyed the performances by Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Andrew Koji, Famke Janssen, and Sharlto Copley. As the titular Boy, Bill Skarsgård is fantastic as a character who cannot speak but acts and reacts with facial expressions and body language. This physical turn, mixed with the fantastic voice-over work by H. Jon Benjamin, who provides the Boy’s often hilarious inner voice, helps make the protagonist a very charming character.
Despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed Boy Kills World. It is a movie that is either great for a matinee viewing or for a fun time at home. If hardcore violence isn’t a selling point, then I wouldn’t recommend checking out this movie. For those who love lots of blood splatters and some shocking violence mixed with a sense of humor, then this film is definitely your jam.