I Kill Giants

I Kill Giants follows Barbara Thorson, a lonely middle school girl who wears bunny ears and carries a magic hammer. Barbara believes giants will destroy her coastal Long Island town, so she builds traps and hunts them near the woods and sea. Barbara also faces bullying, trouble at home, and her mother’s serious illness while her older sister Karen helps care for the family. A new student named Sophia becomes Barbara’s friend, and school psychologist Mrs. Mollé tries to understand her behavior. The film uses dark fantasy to show how Barbara copes with fear, grief, and loss.

The film gives girls and women most of the important roles. Barbara leads the action, while Karen, Sophia, Taylor, and Mrs. Mollé provide family support, friendship, and guidance. Zoe Saldana plays Mrs. Mollé as a trusted adult and gives the group a visible nonwhite woman. Barbara can be angry, rude, strange, and brave without becoming a simple role model. These choices are noticeable, but the story focuses on grief, fear, and accepting help instead of modern identity politics or activist ideas.