Review of Killer Joe (2012) by Rameshwar I — 20 Apr 2016

Its an understatement to say it is dark. It is a psychopathic thriller featuring emotionless characters who have never heard of the concept of being ethical. It could have worked even if it was setup during the cavemen era for its barbarism. One thing to ponder though is how they roped in Matthew McConaughey and how he made this watchable.

Chris (Emile Hirsch) belongs to a dysfunctional family and is neck deep in debts with the wrong guy. He overhears that his mother has a fat insurance policy and the beneficiary is his young sister Dottie (Juno Temple). He convinces his father Ansel (Thomas Haden Church) of a plan to murder her mother by putting a hit on her. His father who has divorced and re-married Sharla (Gina Gershon) agrees to this and so does the rest of the family unanimously. Chris recommends Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey) a reputed hit-man also a cop who has a strict advance pay policy. When the family could not meet that, Joe gives them another offer.

From the word go the tone is set to be sleazy and gory and the same continues for the rest of the movie. The actors with their limited talent gives in their best shot even if the script does not demand of it. The characters, their home is presented in different ways during different circumstances. For example when they start out all are scarcely dressed, drugs everywhere, spitting in the living room etc, rest of the scenes it is spic and span with all of them well dressed throughout. McConaughey who mostly plays the well-dressed lawyer or a boyish charmer takes the darker side this time as a sleazy, sadistic bad guy but not betraying his Texan accent. The final humiliation scene works well as a shocker. The movie knows its target audience and the selling points playing close to its strengths with hardly any deviation. It could have been lot worse but stays afloat with a director who has a presence of mind and a steady hand.

Mainstream thriller done with a solid business mind.