The horror movie “They Will Kill” You is currently making headlines, and now the real-life inspiration behind it has been revealed. Director and co-writer Kirill Sokolov shared that the movie is based on his own experience while living in an apartment years ago.
According to Sokolov, he and his wife rented an apartment in a 16-story building about 10 years ago. Within just a few days, they realized that most of the residents in the building were over the age of 65, and many were single women. This detail felt like an early sign to him that something wasn’t quite right.
The situation became even more unsettling when he discovered a hole behind the kitchen cabinet in his apartment that led directly into a neighbor’s unit. After this discovery, he and his wife would joke that they might be living among a cult and that someone could come after them.
For a long time, it remained just a joke. However, a few years ago, after watching “Rosemary’s Baby,” Sokolov found inspiration in that experience. He shared the idea with his close friend Alex Litvak, who loved it, and the two went on to write the script together.
That real-life experience eventually turned into “They Will Kill You.” The film follows a young woman who must survive the night at a hotel called the Virgil, which serves as a dangerous hideout for a satanic cult, as she tries to avoid becoming their next sacrifice.
The movie stars Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Myha’la. According to Sokolov, the story is inspired by a real event, which adds to its uniqueness.
After premiering at SXSW in March 2026, the film is now playing in theaters. Sokolov also confirmed, with a laugh, that he no longer lives in that apartment, repeating “no” several times when asked.
He added that the cast may not have known about the real-life story behind the script, but that didn’t lessen their excitement. Everyone who read the script was immediately drawn to it and believed in the project.
Sokolov shared that during casting, each actor connected with the story and brought a strong sense of passion to the film. Working with experienced actors and offering them something new made the experience even more special for him.
For the director, witnessing that level of passion from the cast was the greatest honor. He also noted that while the film is filled with intense horror and bloody moments, at its core, it is also a story about sisterhood.
Sokolov said that being able to create such a film was an incredible achievement.
So, would you watch a horror movie inspired by a real-life experience like this, or does it make it even scarier for you? Let us know in the comments!
