More times than I can count there is a section in films that makes me bored or disinterested. A majority of the time if there is going to be a section that fails and makes the movie unenjoyable, it will almost always be the end. However, there are films where the introduction or the first third greatly overshadows the rest of the film. This can be a tone or a character that exists in the beginning, that changes or goes missing with the rest of the movie. When dealing with Kill Ben Lyk it is dealing with both of these issues.

After finding out a man with his name was murdered Ben Lyk, a vlogger in London, nervously uses the situation to raise his internet status. After a second man is killed with his name he reaches out to another vlogger with his name just to see him murdered. While in a panicked, paranoid stated he is picked up by the police and driven to a safe house in the country. When he arrives he is welcomed by the Lieutenant who summoned him and eight other people called Ben Lyk. While each Ben tries to figure out the situation it begins to become more clear that there may be a traitor, and none of them are safe.

Kill Ben Lyk hits the ground running when it begins with a man in a suit of armor having sex with a woman in a princess dress being murdered by a masked man. After a visually exciting and fun intro sequence, we are introduced to vlogger Ben and his layback straight man comedy roommate Roberto, who exchange fun dialogue and quips back and forth. Fifteen minutes, and two more dead Ben Lkys later, Ben is picked up by the police, separated from Roberto, and the movie slams on the breaks. What was fun and energetic about the introduction, is completely lost when the rest of the cast is introduced. While this could have been a two-character duo trying to solve the Ben Lyk murder mystery and teaming up with other Bens, we instead are treated to a painfully slow mystery unfolding with one-note characters.

In this void of simple characters, not even vlogger Ben, who when played opposite to Roberto came off as self-centered but charming, becomes a whiney egotistical douche. Each Ben has a single characteristic or “comedy” bit that is used constantly. Banker Ben is a jerk, priest Ben is all holy man, British punk Ben is a punk, and so one and so forth. The worst of them being girl Ben who has a running gag of fake flirting with vlogger Ben to the point where she does it while they should be escaping the killer. This problem even extends to the supporting cast with the Lieutenant constantly calling her daughter to read her bedtime stories.

It always hurts to enjoy the beginning of a movie so much, just to have it become repetitive, boring and poorly written. With some simple retooling and keeping the Ben and Roberto comedy duo going, it could have honestly been fun and exciting like Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead. It may have been disappointing but I feel the director does enough right that there is an audience for this film, and I would be happy to check out his next film.