Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Sophia, a new high school student, tries to make friends with Barbara, who tells her that “she kills giants,” protecting this way her hometown and its inhabitants, who do not understand her strange behavior.
I Kill Giants is a quiet, heartfelt adaptation of the graphic novel that blends fantasy and emotional drama around grief and isolation. The plot is thoughtful and metaphorically resonant, though its trajectory becomes fairly predictable once the central metaphor is understood. Acting from Madison Wolfe is committed and above average for a young lead, while the supporting cast is solid but unremarkable. Cinematography is competent and occasionally atmospheric but not visually striking. The film earns points for its emotional sincerity and its treatment of childhood grief through fantasy, but the graphic novel's approach was already well-established before the film. The ending is emotionally affecting and pays off the central metaphor, though it arrives somewhat telegraphed. An above-average but unexceptional film across the board.