Killer Joe Review

23rd Jun 2012

It’s been a while since Matthew McConaughey played crazy… In fact I think it may well have been as far back as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4 (Unless you count that Bill Paxton movie Frailty which no-one saw either).

McConaughy has be slapped around as a bit of a ladies man, not shy to whip off his shirt and head up a whole slew of often terrible romantic comedies time and time again. He finally got a break from that gig when he made The Lincoln Lawyer – which reminded people that the guy could act and do it well. Here he really blows the lid off with a very disturbing (yet blackly comic) take on the titular character (A police man who also works freelance as a contract killer).

A trailer trash family, consisting of a father (Thomas Hayden Chruch); a step-mother (Gina Gershon) a son (Emile Hirsch) and daughter (Juno Temple) turn to Joe for a favour: Killing the original mother who has landed the son in a spot of bother. After he takes on the job the family soon find he is willing to go along with their plans, despite their lack of funds, in return for a retainer: The daughter, whom he has laid his lusty eyes upon.

Director William Friedkin has delivered the most bat-shit crazy film you are likely to see in a while. It’s almost looking in at trailer trash hicks and making fun of their stereotypical nature as we have come to understand it on screen. It’s interesting to watch how the family all treat one and other for better or worse, and how obsessed the men become with the women (family or not!).

Thomas Hayden Church is hilarious as the dumb, tempered father who barely understands the language around him. Gershon looks like she’s been at the botox centre a little too much, but nobly portrays a character so despicable, yet not without her own remorse or even sympathy. Hirsch could easily win the best “Leo DiCaprio” wannabe competition, and breaks any mould he may have created as a pretty boy youngster actor. Despite the entire troupe putting in great turns it is McConaughey takes the prize and runs however.

To say anything about the dark drama that unfolds, or the often laugh out loud dialogue would spoil this very wonderful bit of pulp cinema. If you really want something different to slap you to attention, killer Joe is it.