Composer Carlos Rafael Rivera discusses his work on They Will Kill You, breaking down the film’s bold musical identity and his collaboration with director Kirill Sokolov.
Rivera shares how the score evolved from a delicate “ghost story” piano opening into aggressive, synth-driven themes like “The Sisters” and “The Immortal,” pushing him outside of his comfort zone.
In this interview we discuss:
• Collaborating with Kirill Sokolov and shaping the film’s tone
• Blending orchestral elements with synths and guitar
• Creating themes like “Maria Reeves” with layered textures
• Scoring high-intensity sequences like “The Fight”
• Balancing emotional depth with the film’s hyper-violent energy
Rivera describes the process as deeply collaborative and iterative, resulting in a score that is bolder and more dynamic than anything he has done before.
They Will Kill You is a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy where a young woman must survive the night inside the Virgil, a demonic cult’s twisted death-trap before becoming their next offering.
The film stars Zazie Beetz, Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette.
Directed by Kirill Sokolov and written by Sokolov & Alex Litvak. Produced by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Dan Kagan.
In theaters March 27, 2026.
Carlos Rafael Rivera is a Grammy and Emmy-winning composer known for The Queen’s Gambit, Griselda, Hacks, and Lessons in Chemistry.
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