Title – Boy Kills World (2023) 

Director – Moritz Mohr (feature debut)

Cast – Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Famke Janssen

Plot – Determined to enact revenge on those that destroyed his family, the mute Boy (Skarsgård) sets his sights on a bloody journey of carnage and lifeless bodies. 

“From now on we make our own rules”

Review by Eddie on 13/11/2024

Finding itself a level of interest and popularity amongst casual viewers on home streaming it most certainly didn’t when it first appeared on cinema screens around the world in early 2024, hyperactive futuristic action romp Boy Kills World can’t be accused of not trying but amongst all the drone infused action scenes, colourful yet bland characters and grater-laced cartoon violence is an empty feeling film that never becomes that cult favourite it might have been. 

Helmed by debut feature filmmaker Moritz Mohr, Boy takes place in a dystopian future where Bill Skarsgård’s mute Boy is trained by Yayan Ruhian’s Shaman to become a one man army hellbent on seeking revenge against Famke Janssen’s Hilda Van Der Koy, a woman who tore apart his family and separated him from his beloved sister, setting him on a path of revenge that’s filled with John Wick on steroids levels of carnage. 

It’s a simplistic set-up and one that stays mostly small-scale due to budget confines and while there are some undeniably great action segments scattered throughout this constantly moving ride, including a great chance to once more see The Raid breakout star Yayan Ruhian showcase his craft, for the most part Boy is a forgettable film without much sense of purpose or end goal in mind, making one wonder little as to why this feature ended it’s global box office run under $4 million dollars. 

Attempting to do a lot without utilising his voice (voice over duties here are performed by H. Jon Benjamin in a video game announcer style), Skarsgård is once more a central figure to a poorly delivered project with this effort and the misguided The Crow two projects that suggest Skarsgård needs to revaluate his next lead turn wisely after appearing set for superstardom after his key turn in the two IT films as iconic clown Pennywise.

There’s no doubt that Skarsgård is a talented performer and his commitment to the role here is on show with his many slow-mo/close-up ab shots but there’s a distinct feeling of aimlessness prevalent here, both in his muted Boy and Mohr’s film overall, with little intriguing elements holding all the action set pieces together in any meaningful or memorable way as we meander to one scene to the next. 

There’s undoubtedly the bones of an exciting and unique offering here but Boy as it stands is unable to deliver on the promises it shows in passing, creating that intensely mediocre streaming hit that has become the normal in the Netflix era. 

Final Say – 

Watchable if only for the chance to witness “Mad Dog” ply his trade and for some fast and frenetic action carnage, Boy Kills World is unable to find its reason for being, becoming nothing more than a minor distraction for viewers on the lookout for a close to two hour time filler. 

2 kitchen utensils out of 5