“Killer Joe”…Trailer trash savages

The second film I had the chance to watch this past weekend is a  violent crime film starring Matthew McConaughey as “Joe”, a corrupt police detective whose business on the side involves murdering people for money. Simple enough. The film revolves around a family of not so bright, down-on-their-luck folks. This family formed by Chris (Emile Hirsch), Dottie (Juno Temple), Sharla (Gina Gershon) and the “patriarch” Ansel (Thomas Haden Church). All of them fulfill the stereotypes of middle/redneck America. In the midst of a drug deal gone wrong, Chris, decides to hire “Killer Joe” to murder his mother and keep the insurance money, which in turn belongs to his younger sister Dottie. The tale doesn’t gives much info on the character,neither the family nor Joe. We do not know how Joe gets away with murders, or if there is past clients, or anything that resembles a more humanly complex villain. All we know about the family’s carelessness towards the mom is what Dottie says about neglect and drinking. In my opinion not enough to justify murder. All the characters in the film are presented as very basic, with the simple motivation of money. Having said this, if this was Friedkin’s objective then it was well achieved; however, with all the character development it lacks, the film succeeds with very dark but fitting humor and violent scenes that shock. That’s why the NC-17 rating. Overall the film works for what it, but its biggest strength is McConaughey’s performance, he is splendid, erasing all his baggage as a Romantic Comedy leading male, to immerse himself in a sexually perverted, violent sadistic, power hungry asshole. Just for his performance alone it deserves a viewing. The film is entertaining, has a couple good funny moments, and doesn’t lack in shocks up till the very end. I believe thanks to some solid acting it earns a B-.

PS: Watch out for the fried chicken. (not kidding)