Another year, another Overlook Film Festival. Kicking off my remote coverage of this year’s festival is a review for a sinister slice of indie horror titled Kill Your Lover. The United Kingdom film follows Dakota and Axel, a couple in a toxic relationship on the brink of ruin. Dakota finally gets the courage to end things, but her plans come to a screeching halt when Axel comes home with a strange and rapidly worsening illness.

Kill Your Lover was written and directed by filmmaking duo Alix Austin (Isolation) and Keir Siewert (Isolation). The film weaves back and forth between the early days of the couple’s relationship and the horrible situation they find themselves in at the present. It’s a great juxtaposition that shows not only the chemistry they initially had before it turned to animosity, but also how much Dakota has changed over time. The more the story of their relationship unfolds, the more clear it becomes that Axel is emotionally abusive and manipulative, leading to Dakota changing almost everything about herself to fit Axel’s idea of her. This easily could have been a dramatic film showcasing the rise and fall of a relationship that probably never would have been, but then the filmmakers threw in a heaping dose of body horror. Whatever it is making Axel sick, it changes him both physically and mentally, seeming to bring all the love, hate, and obsession bubbling to the surface. While there are instances when the dialogue goes a bit over the top, leaning towards cheesy, it is still an effective use of horror to emphasize a deteriorating relationship.

What really sells Kill Your Lover are the fantastic performances. Paige Gilmour makes her feature film debut as Dakota. Gilmour delivers a very nuanced performance that highlights how Dakota is both fiercely herself as well as a people-pleaser. When we first meet Dakota she is the embodiment of a free-spirited rockstar, but her people-pleasing tendencies and Axel’s manipulation completely change her appearance and personality. Shane Quigley-Murphy (Fair City, Vikings: Valhalla) plays Axel. Unlike Dakota, Axel doesn’t change much throughout the film. While early in their relationship he seemed kind and accepting, the audience can see the disquiet behind his eyes that eventually leads to his emotional abuse. Quigley-Murphy is wonderful at showing the hate just below the surface, at least until the illness pulls the anger and violence to the forefront. Gilmour and Quigley-Murphy are stunning together, as they convey strong chemistry at the beginning of Dakota and Axel’s relationship before believably shifting to open hostility.

With body horror being a big part of the plot, the effects play an important role. Kill Your Lover makes up a new illness, only vaguely hinting at its potential origin. Aside from the mental side effects, such as rage and violence, there are many physical effects as well. Axel comes home and initially seems like maybe he as a stomach bug, vomiting copious amounts of clear, greenish slime. Yet ever expanding black veins that show on the surface of his skin, as well as other bizarre symptoms, let the audience know this illness is something far more sinister than your typical bug. The makeup and practical effects for this illness are gross, goopy, and slimy in the best way. However, some of the fake tattoos and minimal CGI effects aren’t quite as well executed. Other compelling artistic elements of Kill Your Lover are the lighting, cinematography, and a great original song written and performed by Suzi Moon for the band Dakota used to be in.

Kill Your Lover is a tense relationship drama oozing from every orifice with gnarly body horror. Austin and Siewert perfectly put on display what it’s like to be in an emotionally abusive relationship, using a mystery illness to inject those themes with steroids. The effects really deliver a gross-out factor that is sure to make every germaphobe squirm. While the goopy horror adds terror and makes the film more fun for horror fans, the focus of the film is really a deteriorating relationship, which is why the compelling performances from Gilmour and Quigley-Murphy are the shining star of Kill Your Lover.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10