In an era where fast-consumption habits have taken over cinema halls, films that weave their stories slowly and lead the viewer’s mind into a labyrinth become even more precious. Directed by Alireza Khatami, The Things You Kill (2025) is a perfect example of this—an intense and meditative piece of “slow cinema” that invests in atmosphere rather than action. As Canada’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards, this production masterfully blends mystery, surrealism, and a deep moral decay.
The Dark Line Where Grief Turns to Violence
At the heart of the film is a university professor crushed under the weight of mourning following his mother’s suspicious death. The process begins with this psychologically unraveling man manipulating his gardener to carry out a personal revenge plot. However, it tells more than just a crime story; it depicts the fragmentation of reality and moral values. Events unfold with a pace so slow and uncanny that, after a while, it becomes impossible to distinguish whether the professor’s experiences are real or merely mental projections.
This surreal and ambiguous structure, reminiscent of David Lynch, combined with Khatami’s auteur vision, elevates the film beyond a traditional thriller, transforming it into a psychoanalytic session focused on the dark inner world of the human psyche.
A Strong Turkish Cast on the International Stage
Undoubtedly, the most significant factor sustaining the film’s heavy, eerie, and psychological atmosphere is the acting. In the lead role, Ekin Koç delivers such a measured and introverted performance of the professor’s internal conflicts and mental breakdowns that the character’s ruin is felt directly by the audience. Alongside him, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil represents the mysterious yet grounded side of the story, while Hazar Ergüçlü provides the critical emotional complexity within the character dynamics. In a film where internal conflicts speak louder than actions, the performances of all three actors contribute significantly to the film’s “artistic weight.”
A Festival Favorite and a New Topic for Cinephiles
The Things You Kill was not made to break box office records or serve as “fast food” for popular culture; it appeals to art-house enthusiasts aged 25–55 who enjoy analyzing and “reading between the lines.” The 8 awards and 27 nominations it has garnered so far demonstrate its prestigious standing within the global festival circuit. Rather than offering ready-made answers, the film invites the audience to debate topics such as toxic masculinity, emotional suppression, guilt, and power dynamics.
If you are a viewer seeking action in every second, the deliberate slowness and narrative ambiguity of this film might be exhausting. However, if you view cinema as an art of interpretation, you are faced with a striking masterpiece that fully rewards your patience and will linger in your mind for a long time.
Released in select theaters and on premium digital platforms on November 14, 2025, The Things You Kill serves as a jarring reminder that violence is not just a physical act, but evidence of how the soul begins to decay.
