KILLER JOE – The Review

You will never look at fried chicken the same.

In the new William Friedkin film KILLER JOE Matthew McConaughey plays a corrupt cop who has a bit of a side business… killing people. When Chris (Emile Hirsch), a 22-year-old drug dealer, has his stash stolen by his mother, he has to find a way to pay off the missing drugs or he is dead. Through hearsay, he finds “Killer Joe” and strikes up a deal to kill his mother for her life insurance. Unable to pay upfront, Chris’s sister Dottie (Juno Temple) is offered up as sexual collateral.

I can’t decide how to describe this. It’s almost too dark for a dark comedy, but it’s still really funny. Friedkin could not have picked a better ensemble cast to deliver this crazy story to audiences. “Killer Joe” is a complex character. Joe is a deranged man who needs to be in control. Dottie changes that a bit, bringing out a side that seems to be looking for a family. Unfortunately, Joe picks a horribly drunk, ignorant, and possibly insane family to start hanging around with. At the very least, this family has no concern for morals or social norms.

This movie is not for the weak of heart. It’s pretty rough. Hirsch, McConaughey, Temple Gina Gershon and Thomas Haden Church really committed to their roles. Hirsch always amazes me with his commitment to roles. He could not have been more convincing as a drug dealing imbecile who thinks he knows everything. He was fascinating to watch. Gershon wins the award for throwing herself into a role though. I don’t want to spoil the film, so I will just say that her performance in the last scene is award worthy. McConaughey shows a dark, chilling side that we have never seen before. It’s impressive to see him as a dark, menacing character.

The framework in this film is rather impressive, especially since most or it is shot within close quarters. Shooting in a trailer is not easy, but they did a fantastic job of coming up with interesting shots within such a small setting. Friedkin continues to push the envelope with audiences, and KILLER JOE is no exception.

KILLER JOE is dirty, trashy, and violent. It’s also pretty darn funny. If you are offended easily then this is not the film for you. That being said, I really enjoyed it!

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5 stars

Directed by William Friedkin

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, Juno Temple and Thomas Haden Church

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KillerJoeTheMovie

WEBSITE: http://killerjoethemovie.com/

KILLER JOE plays exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Tivoli Theatre