The Things You Kill

The events unfold in a contemporary Turkish context, with references to university life, professional insecurity, and familial pressures. The story touches on modern social issues such as infertility, donor restrictions, and the legal or ethical implications of medical choices in Turkey.

Set primarily in a dilapidated family home in Turkey and a farm on the city’s outskirts, the film contrasts cramped indoor spaces with open desert terrain used for concealment. The locale underscores the tension between tradition and modern life, and the frequent moves between domestic interiors and external spaces show the fragility of safety. The story's sense of place is intimate and claustrophobic, highlighting how home becomes a site of coercion and violence.

⚖️ Power and Control

Power and control permeate every relationship in the story: the father Hamit exercises domination over his family, belittling Ali and maintaining authority through fear. Ali's sense of agency shrinks under family pressure, while Reza manipulates circumstances to seize control of Ali’s life. The film examines how power is contested, resisted, and ultimately redirected through violence.

🩸 Violence and Guilt

The plot escalates from domestic abuse to murder, with Ali forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the violence around him. The murder of Reza becomes a catalyst for Ali's self-preservation and survival in a suffocating environment. The story uses physical harm to probe moral compromise and guilt.

🎭 Truth and Facade

Characters wear masks of respectability while harboring secrets; Ali hides infertility and fear of his father, Hamit projects authority, and Reza pretends to be a cooperative ally. The film explores how appearances conceal deeper truths and how longing for control can drive people to extreme actions. The tension between what is shown and what is real drives the story toward its violent climax.