Movie Review: Killer Joe

Killer Joe
Starring: Matthew McConaughey. Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon, Marc Macaulay, Gralen Bryant Banks, Carol Sutton, Danny Epper, Jeff Galpin, Scott A. Martin, Gregory C. Bachaud, Charley Vance 

Director: William Friedkin
Voltage Pictures, Picture Perfect, Worldview Entertainment, ANA Media, USA, 2011.

Chris Smith is a drug dealer in Texas who is in trouble because his mother Adele (Julia Adams) stole his drugs. He owes money to gangster Digger Soames (Marc Macaulay). Chris conspires together with his incredibly stupid father Ansel (Thomas Haden Church) who is Adele's ex-husband. Chris' stepmother Sharla (Gina Gershon) is cheating Ansel but Ansel does not know anything about it. 

Chris and his father Ansel

Stepmother Sharla

Trailer park

A local cop Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) does side business as a paid killer. Chris, Ansel and Sharla hire Joe to kill Adele and plans to get her life insurance money. However the sole beneficiary of the insurance is Chris' teenage little sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Joe wants payment beforehand. Chris does not have money so Joe accepts Dottie as retainer. Dottie has to start a strange relationship with seemingly mild mannered Killer Joe, who turns out to be a psychopathic manipulator. To complicate things Chris is very possessive of Dottie. Joe moves into their apartment. Chris begins to hesitate about killing Adele but it is becoming obvious that Chris has done a deal with the Devil. And then Chris' plan starts to go wrong.

Killer Joe Cooper

Dottie

Chris takes too big a bite

The movie is based on the play by Tracy Letts. William Friedkin's movie is a powerful white trailer trash crime story with black humour. The movies characters are all more or less moralless scum, so Joe acts as the final nail in the coffin of the dysfunctional family. Dottie is the only character who is somewhat innocent (but still being like a ticking time bomb). The movie itself is well acted Southern style neo-noir. The theme of botched crime and its consequences is a bit reminiscent of what "Fargo" would look if it was directed by Rob Zombie. The movie manages to paint a picture of deeply unpleasant human beings. Due the controversial themes and unpleasantly brutal scenes "Killer Joe" can not be recommended for sensitive viewers or those who are easily offended.

Rating: Good