‘Boy Kills World’ is a Chaotic Romp Through a Dystopian Society

Moritz Mohr’s new film, Boy Kills World, covers a myriad of genres: action, comedy, thriller, and science fiction.  But it tries to be so many things at once that it isn’t particularly successful at any of them.  It’s a strange mashup of the revenge plot of Kill Bill, the unexpected twist of Fight Club, and the overworked action sequences of any given Marvel movie.

If Mohr seeks to produce a modern action classic, this won’t be the one.  With vibrant colors, quick cuts, and striking set design, the film is admittedly visually stunning, but the attractive cinematography is nothing more than a facade for an overworked plot and underdeveloped characters.  Within the first ten minutes of the film, I found myself wondering if I had missed something.  Boy Kills World looks overwhelmingly like it’s based on a video game, or perhaps a superhero movie with far too many sequels.  While jumping straight into the action is certainly an attention-grabber, it doesn’t offer enough time or opportunity to humanize the characters.  Sure, the plot indicates that the characters have emotions, but we don’t see it.  The movie is far too fast-paced and action-packed to make the audience feel anything other than overstimulated.  And without adequate characterization, the film feels overwhelmingly convoluted; all flash and no feeling.

Frustratingly, aspects of the film have untapped potential, particularly the big plot twist near the end.  While this surprise development is an objectively clever idea, it’s too underdeveloped to be profound.  Without a cohesive plot and clues along the way, the movie’s unexpected curveball is nothing more than a half-baked attempt to create a shocking twist worthy of Sixth Sense or Fight Club recognition.

Bill Skarsgård stars as Boy, a deaf and mute action hero who has been trained for one purpose: to kill the antagonist, Hilda Van Der Koy.  After Hilda executes his family in the “Culling,” an annual televised execution, Boy spends years training in the martial arts under the Shaman, a mysterious hermit with an inexplicable motive to take down the Van Der Koys.  Deep in the jungle, the Shaman teaches Boy to use his body as the ultimate weapon against the cruel dictator.  In a futuristic dystopia, the “my body is a weapon” idea just doesn’t cut it.  The society depicted in the movie is a dystopian nanny state, a cult of personality centered on the society’s dictator and Boy’s enemy, Hilda Van Der Koy.  One could argue the film suggests where our society might be headed, but Boy’s response is inconsistent with the Van Der Koys’ actions.  If the decline of a society is based on surveillance, execution, and government interference, the government’s power is legitimized through fear and coercion.  Therefore, the one who overthrows it must have an equally powerful method to sway public opinion and liberate society, so one man’s attempt to use his physical strength to overthrow the dictator is underwhelming and utterly unsymbolic, watering down the gravity of the consequences of such a dysfunctional society.

Despite the drawbacks, a few actors stand out.  Despite Boy being completely mute except for his inner monologue, Bill Skarsgård does a stellar job with his portrayal.  Brett Gelman’s Gideon Van Der Koy, the deranged minion brother of Hilda, is eerily similar to his comically unhinged character on Fleabag, but luckily, the blatant typecasting is not enough to take away from his impressive performance.  Despite being an exaggerated caricature, Gelman’s character is one of the more compelling and convincing figures.  If you’re wondering what makes this movie worth watching, Skarsgård and Gelman top the list with their witty and captivating performances.

Overall, the most noticeable quality of the film is simply how jarring and chaotic it is.  For fans of video game films and action-packed thrillers, Boy Kills World just might be worth the watch.  But if you’re looking for believability, a clear and developed plot, and strong characterization, this movie is unlikely to satisfy.