If you walked into the I Kill Giants movie expecting a generic CGI slugfest where a kid swings a massive hammer at monsters, you probably felt a bit cheated at first. I know I did. You see the poster, you see the giant warhammer, and you think Thor meets Bridge to Terabithia. But this film is a different beast entirely. It’s heavy. It’s gritty. It’s a raw, uncomfortable look at how we survive the things we can’t actually kill.
The movie, released in 2017 and directed by Anders Walter, adapts the critically acclaimed graphic novel by Joe Kelly and Ken Niimura. It follows Barbara Thorson, a girl who lives in her own head because her reality is falling apart. She spends her days scouting the coastline of Long Island, setting traps, and preparing for the arrival of "Giants."
The I Kill Giants movie isn't about monsters
Let's be real. Most "fantasy" movies use magic as an escape. In the I Kill Giants movie, fantasy is a defense mechanism. Barbara isn't trying to go to Narnia; she's trying to stop her world from ending.
Madison Wolfe plays Barbara with this jagged, defensive energy that makes her hard to like sometimes. She’s rude to her sister, Mrs. Mollé (played by Zoe Saldana), and her only friend, Sophia. But that’s the point. Grief isn't pretty. It’s messy. It’s a pair of bunny ears worn as armor.
The film excels because it refuses to answer the "is it real?" question too early. Is Barbara actually seeing these colossal threats, or is she just a kid dealing with a massive amount of trauma? While the graphic novel felt a bit more ambiguous, the film leans into the psychological weight. It’s about the "Titan"—a specific monster that represents the ultimate, unstoppable loss.
Breaking down the Giant mythology
In Barbara’s world, there are different types of giants. You’ve got Forest Giants, Mountain Giants, and then the big one. The Harbingers.
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- Forest Giants: These are almost like distractions. They represent the smaller anxieties that eat away at a person.
- The Titan: This is the inevitable. It’s the storm that doesn't care if you're ready or not.
The CGI for these creatures is surprisingly grounded. Since the budget wasn't Avengers-level, the filmmakers used scale and shadow to make the monsters feel ancient and terrifying. When the Titan finally shows up, it doesn't feel like a video game boss. It feels like a natural disaster.
Why people get this movie wrong
A lot of critics at the time compared it to A Monster Calls. On the surface, sure, they share DNA. Both involve a child using a giant entity to process a dying parent. But the I Kill Giants movie is more about the work of survival. It’s about the physical toll of being "the weird kid" in a small town.
The conflict isn't just with the giants. It's with Taylor, the bully who represents the cruelty of the real world. It's with her older sister, Karen (Imogen Poots), who is drowning in the responsibility of keeping the family afloat.
Honestly, the most heartbreaking scene isn't a battle. It's when Barbara is forced to go upstairs in her own house. The "giant" lives upstairs. We eventually learn that her mother is terminally ill, and Barbara’s refusal to go to the second floor is her way of refusing to accept that her mother is dying. If she doesn't see it, it isn't happening. If she kills the giant, her mom lives. It’s a desperate, logical leap that only a child—or someone in total denial—could make.
The performance of Madison Wolfe
We need to talk about Madison Wolfe. She was about 12 or 13 when they filmed this. Most child actors in these types of movies play "charming" or "quirky." Wolfe plays Barbara as someone who is constantly vibrating with anxiety and rage.
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She's an expert at the "thousand-yard stare." When she looks at Zoe Saldana’s character, she isn't seeing a helpful school psychologist; she’s seeing a threat to her carefully constructed wall of lies. It’s a powerhouse performance that grounded a movie that could have easily drifted into cheesy territory.
The I Kill Giants movie and the "Grief Horror" genre
There’s a specific subgenre that has emerged over the last decade. Some call it "Elevated Horror," but I prefer "Grief Horror." Movies like The Babadook or Hereditary use monsters to represent mental health struggles.
The I Kill Giants movie fits here, but it’s gentler. It’s YA (Young Adult) grief horror. It tells kids—and adults—that it’s okay to be scared. It tells them that you can’t actually kill the giants. You can only learn to face them.
Joe Kelly, who wrote both the comic and the screenplay, understood that the ending couldn't be a "happily ever after." The giant doesn't die in a way that saves the day. The giant dies because the protagonist finally accepts that life is temporary. "All things that live, die. This is why you must find joy in the living." That’s the core message. It’s brutal. It’s honest.
Technical Craft: Sound and Color
The sound design in the I Kill Giants movie is underrated. Listen to the wind. Listen to the way the forest creaks when Barbara is out there. The film uses diegetic sound to bridge the gap between her imagination and her reality.
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Visually, the film uses a muted palette. Greys, blues, and deep greens. It feels like a coastal town in the winter—cold and damp. This makes the few flashes of color, like Barbara’s yellow bag or the glow of her "magical" items, pop. It’s a visual representation of hope in a very dark place.
Is it worth a rewatch in 2026?
Yes. Especially if you’re going through a transition or a loss. The movie didn't make a billion dollars. It didn't launch a cinematic universe. But it remains one of the most faithful and emotionally resonant adaptations of a graphic novel ever made.
People often ask if they should read the book first. The book is a masterpiece of black-and-white art. The movie is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling. You don't need one to enjoy the other, but seeing how they translated the "Coveleski" hammer from the page to the screen is a treat for any fan of the medium.
Essential takeaways for fans of the film
If you’ve watched it or are planning to, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the background. The filmmakers hide a lot of "giant" imagery in the clouds and trees long before the monsters actually appear. It shows how Barbara’s mind is constantly scanning for threats.
- Pay attention to the sister. Imogen Poots gives a subtle performance as the sister who is essentially a surrogate mother. Her exhaustion is the grounded anchor of the film.
- Don't expect an action movie. This is a character study. If you go in looking for Pacific Rim, you’ll be disappointed. If you go in looking for a story about the human spirit, you’ll be floored.
- Listen to the score. Laurent Perez Del Mar composed a haunting, ethereal soundtrack that perfectly captures the "fairytale" feel of Barbara's internal world.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch with a perspective on mental health: If you’re a parent or educator, use the movie as a conversation starter about "avoidance behavior" in children. Barbara’s "giants" are a perfect metaphor for things kids are afraid to talk about.
- Compare the mediums: Find a copy of the Joe Kelly graphic novel. Compare the ending of the book to the ending of the film. There is a slight shift in tone that is worth discussing.
- Support indie fantasy: If you liked the tone of the I Kill Giants movie, seek out other smaller-scale fantasy films like Beasts of the Southern Wild or Pan's Labyrinth. These films prove you don't need a massive budget to tell a massive story.
The I Kill Giants movie reminds us that we are all stronger than we think. We all have giants. We all have hammers. The trick is knowing when to swing and when to just stand still and say goodbye.