PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Codependency in relationships has been a really underexplored avenue in horror until recently. Popularized by Together, the metaphor of demons inside of toxic relationships is a fascinating and relatable idea. But two years before Together, we saw the release of Kill Your Lover. Let’s look at this hidden gem and see what this 2023 debut brought forth.
Kill Your Lover was written and directed by Alix Austin (Bloody Bites TV Series 2023) and Kier Siewert (In Deep 2023). It stars Paige Gilmour (Happy Gals 2020) as Dakota and Shane Quigley-Murphy (Fair City TV Series 2022) as Axel, a couple whose instant infatuation with each other turns sour over time. We see their chemistry evolve into a pit of passion, and then explode into a volatile barrage of subtle and not-so-subtle control, criticism, and contempt.
Gilmour and Quigley-Murphy are asked to carry the cast majority of the film, and they do so admirably. The charisma and timing between Dakota and Axel jump off the page, and it almost runs like a stage play in its svelte pacing. The movie uses flashbacks (with hue changes to indicate the time period) to show the love/hate relationship. As the end of the couple is near, so too is the health of Axel.
Kill Your Lover has a wonderful SFX team, which showcases a physical venom and body transformation on Axel. As the dependency grows and a more balanced version of the relationship comes to light, the believably gross effects grow as well. They take a simple idea and continue to raise the stakes until an all-our war commences in the final act.
The body horror aspect in Kill Your Lover plays like a tense modern version of a David Cronenberg classic (read our David Cronenberg birthday tribute here). This film flies under the radar as compared to most films of its kind, but it’s one that more fans should latch on to. It’s currently available on Shudder and Tubi.
