![Regret Sets in After an Irreversible Cold-Blooded Decision in ‘The Things You Kill’ Sneak Peek [Exclusive]](https://citigist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Regret-Sets-in-After-an-Irreversible-Cold-Blooded-Decision-in-‘The.jpg)
Revenge may seem sweet, but when the reality of such actions sets in, it’s often a hollow feeling that, ultimately, leads to regret. That feeling is at the center of The Things You Kill, a Turkish thriller about a university professor who recruits his gardener to get the vengeance that has long been brewing after his mother’s suspicious death. As part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview week for upcoming winter television and film titles, we’re excited to share a new sneak peek that shows the moment when regret manifests after an irreversible action has been taken. It centers on two men driving away after seemingly burying a body, with one ultimately breaking down over what just transpired the night before.
The footage opens with a far-away shot of one of the men out in the middle of nowhere, illuminated only by the glow of his car’s headlights. It’s hard to make out exactly what he’s doing, but the sound of a shovel piercing dirt, combined with what it cuts to immediately after, makes it easier to guess. The cut takes viewers to the backseat of their car to get a view of the driver and his passenger, faces obscured. After a few moments of silence, the driver begins to break down and cry, saying, “I shouldn’t have come back,” while his enraged partner tells him to stop his blathering. It’s only once the passenger orders him to stop the car and orders him to get out that their faces are finally shown, still somewhat obscured by the faint light of dawn. The passenger reminds his friend that what they just did is exactly what he wanted, but it seems that actually taking vengeance felt much different than desiring it.
At the center of The Things You Kill are Ali (Ekin Koç) and Reza (Erkan Kolçak Köstendil). A modern, progressive man who balances his life as a professor in Ankara with returning to his parents’ small town to care for his ailing mother, Ali often finds his masculinity and patience tested, particularly by his traditional father. His mother’s death only amplifies the rage he feels for the man who raised him, with mounting evidence around the tragedy furthering his desire for revenge. That’s when the enigmatic Reza shows up and takes a job as his gardener. Not only is he willing to help tend Ali’s plants, but Reza’s also able to aid in any other business he needs handling that might, perchance, require his shovel. Together, they delve into “a hypnotic maze of mirrors and memories,” dealing with devastating family secrets and painful truths before a final, brutal reckoning with the darkness inside all of us.
Who Is Involved in ‘The Things You Kill’?
The Things You Kill hails from writer-director Alireza Khatami, an award-winning filmmaker known for his past acclaimed features like Oblivion Verses and Terrestrial Verses. Following the premiere of his latest at Sundance, Khatami earned the drama directing award in the World Cinema category, as well as a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize in World Cinema. Sharing in the success was the talented cast, headlined by Koç and Köstendil. The pair was joined in the revenge thriller by Hazar Ergüçlü, Ercan Kesal, Serhat Nalbantoğlu, Aysan Sümercan, and Selen Kurtaran.
The Things You Kill premieres in theaters on November 14. Check out our exclusive clip in the player above.
- Release Date
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January 24, 2025
- Runtime
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114 minutes
- Director
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Alireza Khatami
- Writers
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Alireza Khatami
- Producers
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Naomi Despres, Ercan Kesal, Mariusz Włodarski, Cyriac Auriol, Michael Solomon
