Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon, Juno Temple
Running Time: 102 minutes
Certificate: 18
William Friedkin has got a remarkable directorial history, delving into different genres with films such as THE EXORCIST and THE FRENCH CONNECTION and retaining a shadowy edge with every outing. KILLER JOE is no exception, and the description black comedy-drama could never be more relevant.
The film centres on trailer-park failure Chris Smith (Emile Hersh), who loses his drugs to his mother and then has to come up with six thousand dollars to pay back the local dealer, or he’s dead. When Chris hears that his dilapidated Mom has an insurance plan, he decides to hire cop-yet-hit man Detective ‘Killer’ Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) to sort out his problem for him but, let’s just say, Chris isn’t exactly in control of what subsequently happens. Upon arranging the deal with his dimwit father Ansel, played superbly deadpan by Thomas Haden Church, Chris can’t pay Killer Joe in full up-front for his services and so, instead, offers his younger sister Dottie (the continually impressive Juno Temple) as a retainer.
Friedkin has created more twisted souls throughout KILLER JOE, from Matthew McConaughey’s tremendous turn as cold psycho-killer-cop Joe Cooper right through to Juno Temple’s innocent, yet seemingly messed-up portrayal of a girl that everyone cares about, yet they’re also happy to sell her off if the mood strikes. Emile Hersh continues to try and find his place in film, here he channels Leonardo DiCaprio at his manic best but I’m still not convinced of any unique ability to hold up a film on his own. In this instance, McConaughey is the centre piece and carries the film with Temple and Haden Church fantastically.
KILLER JOE is a calculated, warped and brutally violent take on a family crisis that’s based in a place where the residents consider anything to help their own existence. It’s one of those where you feel there is no way they’ll succeed with a deathly plan but, on the other hand, becomes captivating viewing as situations test their resolve and intentions. One more thing that’s worth nothing, you’ll never look at a KFC chicken leg in the same way again…
KILLER JOE is out on DVD and Blu-ray on 5th November and can be ordered here.
