Review of Killer Joe (2012) by Ryan S — 20 Mar 2013

"Now suck this.".

As everyone know 'Killer Joe' was shrouded in controversy with reviews mentioning a sick scene involving fried chicken. So many went to see it just to see what the big deal with that particular scene was. I never got the chance to see it in the cinema due to my tiny town not showing it - a burden I have to bare with many films. But I recently bought the film to finally see for myself.

I want to stat from the start that I don't see what the big deal with the fried chicken was at all and i'd barely class this as an 18 film. When I read about it my guess was someone was fried alive in a crispy chicken batter but instead it was something that is supposedly sick - whilst it is incredibly weird i'd hardly call it sick and I actually found it quite funny. Anyway the plot revolves around 'Chris' ('Emile Hirsch') who plots with his dad 'Ansel' ('Thomas Haden Church') to hire "Killer" 'Joe Copper' ('Matthew McConaughey') to kill his mum but things don't go to plane when 'Joe' wants 'Chris's' sister 'Dottie' ('Juno Temple') as a retainer. The characters in this film clearly have no morals whatsoever even if they hate her they have no qualms with having her offed for $50,000. The problem with the plot isn't the morals of the characters in fact its quite refreshing to see characters so unhinged and nonchalant about killing a family member. Its the pacing its just boring at the start and only comes a live fully when things go incredibly wrong near the end. There's a uneasy feel to the film throughout which is the only thing that kept me interested through the boring periods.

The actors do a pretty much perfect job and can't be faulted. 'McConaughey' gives a brilliant unhinged performance as 'Joe' towards the start we see a focused secretive 'Joe' who then at the end shows his true nature when he doesn't get what he wants or as he puts it 'deserves'. Juno' as well does a great job as the airy 'Dottie' a free spirit as sorts who appears to be a complete mystery compared with the rest of the family. And the others are equally as good, as I said the acting can't be faulted. there's just not a great deal that actually happens.

'Killer Joe' isn't as sick and twisted as it is said to be and suffers from pacing problems that hold the film back. But it's darkly comic and the last 25 minutes or so are fantastic everything the rest of the films should have been. Still, well worth a watch and a film sure to garner a cult following and remembered for the controversy.