With R-rated movies being as violent and graphic as they are, a film must be either really perverse or sexually graphic to earn an NC-17 rating these days. Killer Joe falls mostly into the former category. It is twisted and disturbing in ways I can’t even begin to describe — that is, if I wanted to try to spoil all the fun for you — but it’s also perhaps the best film I have seen all year because of that.
Matthew McConaughey stars as the titular Killer Joe Cooper, a Dallas detective who moonlights as a hired killer. Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch, who is seemingly turning into Leonardo DiCaprio more and more with every role) is a white trash drug dealer who has run afoul of Digger (Marc Macaulay), who Chris owes $5000. When Chris’ equally trashy father Ansel and stepmother Sharla (Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon) don’t have the money either, Chris cooks up a scheme to hire Killer Joe to murder Chris’ mother (and Ansel’s ex-wife) to collect on her $50,000 insurance policy. Though Chris doesn’t have the money to pay Joe upfront, he does have something Joe wants — Dottie (Juno Temple), Chris’ young sister.
However, that plot setup gives hardly anything away. The story twists and turns in so many ways that it’s impossible to predict, something that director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) claims drew him to the film (you’ll hear more from Friedkin from our screening Q&A coverage, coming soon!) Friedkin pointed out that in a superhero movie you always know the superhero is going to win, but a more like this the plot is unpredictable. Friedkin mostly owes that to screenwriter Tracy Letts, who adapted his twenty year-old play for this film. Letts and Friedkin have taken a play that isn’t particularly cinematic and have somehow made it a film that will stick with you for days afterward.
With that said, the hallmark of the film is the acting, and there isn’t an actor here who isn’t a perfect fit for the character. McConaughey was excellent in the thematically similar Texas-fried Bernie, but he’s superb here in a suave, but twisted way. I never thought McConaughey was a strong enough actor to go this far out of his wheelhouse. I’m glad I was wrong. This is the role he’ll be remembered for, and rightfully so, unless he continues to push himself (and let’s hope he does!) As for the Smiths, they are not one of those wacky dysfunctional families that you see on TV, this is one of those nonfunctional families your parents told you to stay far away from (unless you were that family. If so, I am sorry for you if this family’s relationships reflect yours in any way). In particular, Church is absurdly incredible as Ansel, the hopelessly dopey type of guy who laughs at monster trucks on TV, though Ansel reveals that he’s so much smarter than we give him credit for by the end of the film. And while I haven’t said much about Juno Temple as Dottie, plent
y needs to be said: we never find out just how old the angelic Dottie is, but her innocent nature and the teenybopper posters that adorn her room show that she’s obviously too young to deal with the horrible circumstances that surround her. Nevertheless, she’s smart enough to know what Joe wants, and Temple’s performance in a scene in which she understands what she will have to do to put the plan in motion is heartbreaking.
The film is also full of small touches that make it even better. We never meet the targeted mother of Chris and Dottie, which is just as well — featuring her might have garnered sympathy when there’s none needed, so she’s best utilized as a MacGuffin. There are also lots of small gags, both verbal and visual (as well as the AWESOME inclusion of Clarence Carter’s incredibly dirty song Strokin’ on the soundtrack), that make this dark film, well, fun. Still, the climatic final scene is one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever seen in a film, but it’s impossible not to watch it.
Unfortunately, Killer Joe won’t garner many nominations because of its content. After hearing Friedkin speak about the film I don’t think he gives a damn — he’s had enough awards and success to be satisfied that with Killer Joe he has made a great movie that will stick with you long after you watch it.
Rating: Sick, twisted, and violent… and one of the best films of the year. Go see it! (9.5/10)
Keep an eye out for Movie Buzzers’ exclusive coverage of a Lincoln Center Q&A session on the film featuring Matthew McConaughey, William Friedkin, Gina Gershon, and Tracy Letts!
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