I Kill Giants is yet another film to add to that ever-growing genre of escapist fantasy films. These films are a blend of the real with the fantastical, focusing on a young girl or boy who is struggling to cope with the reality of their lives. Though often used as a metaphor, sometimes it’s never truly depicted if these extravagant worlds are real or imagined, such as in the case of one of the finest in the genre, Pan’s Labyrinth.
Based on a graphic novel of the same name, I Kill Giants falls very neatly into this genre; yet, unlike many films that came before it, struggles to aptly depict its fantasy world, or to precisely balance this with the struggles of the young girl at its center. Directed by Anders Walter, it is a valiant effort, but one that unfortunately falls short of the mark.
Dark and Dreary Tone
Barbara Thorson (Madison Wolfe) is a solitary young girl who lives with her older sister Karen (Imogen Poots) and brother. With a notable absence of a parental figure, and often the target of bullies at school due to her eccentric nature, she daily escapes into her own self-created fantasies, which includes battles with giants. Her only consolation is from a new girl at school named Sophia (Sydney Wade), who befriends her, and a school psychologist named Mrs. Mollé (Zoe Saldana), but even with their help it is clear that Barbara is slowly becoming unhinged.
The first indication that I Kill Giants will be far from your light and airy fantasy is just from a quick glance at its dark grey color palette, which casts a dismal tone. The score by Laurent Perez Del Mar at times treads into the mystical during its fantasy sequences, but the cinematography by Rasmus Heise and guided by director Anders Walter often chooses a different route, instead lingering on the darkness and uncertainties of what the fantasy world represents.
Walter clearly doesn’t want to sugarcoat what is a deep-rooted, universal theme (no spoilers, but you can probably guess what that refers to), but he’s often so intensely honed in on this and on the effect that it has on the young Barbara that the film becomes too cumbersome to truly enjoy.
Compare this to the adaptation of Bridge to Terabithia as an example, which while still dealing with heavier themes, is for much of its length a fanciful adventure. Another film which is unavoidably a comparison is last year’s A Monster Calls, which deals with the grief of a young boy losing his mother, but also has endurable sequences where he is either discussing his plight with a treelike monster or watching exquisite animations come to life.
I Kill Giants has a clearly lower budget than either of the mentioned films, which is likely part of the reason why its fantasy world isn’t as realized. But the issue here is that, due to its notable absence, all that we are left with is the dismal world that Barbara daily lives in, which clearly isn’t a very fun place. In addition to the one unstated issue that plagues her, she is also smitten by bullies and a neglectful family, which slowly leads to her own unraveling. Even with some scenes taking place next to the rolling waves of the ocean, the film is constantly overcast by its own ominous clouds.
Silver Lining
There are a couple silver linings here, though. One, of course, is Barbara herself, magnificently played by the young Madison Wolfe. A sprightly presence often dressed in bright clothes, she also somehow looks fierce even with two dangling bunny ears perched on top of her head.
Above all, and thanks also to Wolfe‘s confidence, she seems surprisingly comfortable in her own skin. Bullies, such as the mean-spirited Taylor (Rory Jackson) may pick on her, but Barbara hits right back, unafraid to stand her ground. Despite this unwavering demeanor, though, as the film progresses we soon come to understand that this persona is itself a front for what is really going on.
Some of the highlights of the film come when Barbara is speaking with Mrs. Mollé, the school psychologist, warmly played by Zoe Saldana. As one of the only people who seemingly has an understanding of Barbara’s struggles, Mrs. Mollé attempts to slowly but surely make her way into Barbara’s damaged mind in order to help fight her demons (or giants, in this case). Barbara’s interactions with new friend Sophia and the few conversations with her older sister Karen come close to helping, but ultimately it is Mrs. Mollé that seems to have the largest influence on her psyche.
Fantasy as Metaphor
Much like the above-mentioned films, the fantasy world of I Kill Giants clearly stands for something deeper. Though there are a few hints that perhaps the giants of the film are real, such as the mysterious storm that develops towards its conclusion, it’s safe to say that they are primarily the product of Barbara’s extensive imagination. Further, once we do discover Barbara’s deep secret, we see just what the giants were meant to represent all along.
This brings me to the final flaw of the film, however: its eventual takeaway is just a bit too on-the-nose. Monsters often stand for fears and uncertainties, but in the case of I Kill Giants, they are exactly what you imagine them to be, a theme which is even outwardly stated towards the ending of the film. If you compare this once more to a movie such as A Monster Calls, the fears and grief that the main character expresses aren’t so finely tuned and recognizable, because in real life they never are. Both films are fantasies, but as a result of its tidy, wrapped-up ending, I Kill Giants feels far less grounded in reality.
Conclusion: I Kill Giants
To conclude, I Kill Giants is not quite the expressive fantasy that it alludes to be. Though grounded by a strong presence in the young Madison Wolfe, it is often too dreary to be truly engaging, and too underrealized to be an immersive escape into a fantastical world. And with an ending that is just a little too precise, it doesn’t force you to think or ponder outside of its length. It’s a shame, because with a little more depth, Anders Walter‘s film could’ve been something truly special.
What are your thoughts on I Kill Giants? Are you a fan of fantasy-dramas? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
I Kill Giants was released in the U.S. in limited release and VOD on March 23, 2018. For all international release dates, click here.
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