Bill Skarsgård, who is part of a family of eight siblings, six of whom are actors, is known for his ability to bring a creepy vibe to any character he plays. From playing a dangerous stranger to a vampire and Pennywise the Dancing Clown in IT, Skarsgård has shown off his acting skills. However, in Boy Kills World, he proves that he can also excel as an action star.
In this film, Skarsgård plays Boy, a man driven by revenge. His target is Famke Janssen’s character, Hilda van der Koy, the head of a wealthy ruling family in a totalitarian state that conducts an annual “culling” of supposed dissidents and traitors. Boy has lost loved ones to these executions and is on a quest for vengeance against anyone who stands in his way.
Skarsgård’s portrayal of the deaf and mute Boy brings a lethal quality to the character. Despite this standout performance, the film itself struggles to live up to its influences. The plot feels overworked at times with numerous flashbacks and revelations that detract from the action. A leaner edit could improve the pacing and overall impact of the movie.
Despite these flaws, Boy Kills World promises fun characters, intense action sequences and unique performance from Skarsgård. It is set to hit UK cinemas on April 26th and Australian cinemas on May 2nd. While it may not reach its full potential, fans of action-packed movies will find something engaging in this film’s premise and Skarsgård’s performance alone makes it worth watching.