Rent Killer Joe (2011)

Violent black comedy - don't watch it with your granny - Killer Joe review by RP

It's a violent black comedy, directed by William Friedkin (perhaps best known for 'The French Connection' and 'The Exorcist'). Lots of violence, bloodshed, f-ing and blinding, nudity - and one notorious scene featuring a fried chicken leg. So if that's your thing this could be for you - or it could put you off KFC for life...

The story goes something like this: trailer trash family (slow witted father, dotty daughter, slutty stepmother) live on a trailer park. Son lives with his natural mother + her boyfriend and is a part time drug dealer, suspects mother of stealing his coke supply and forcing him into debt. Hatches plan to hire a contract killer (the 'Killer Joe' of the title) to kill his mother for the insurance money. Things go downhill. Err, that's it...

The best part is played by Brit actress Juno Temple as the dotty daughter called, err, Dottie. The film is in fact well acted and directed, but the story is silly, even for a black comedy, and the comedy is overlayed with just too much violence.

I'll give it 3/5 stars. I've seen a lot worse - just don't watch it with your granny. Or with a bucket of KFC.

violence but no story - Killer Joe review by CP Customer

Matthew McConaughey should stick to chick flicks as this was just violence for violence sake..the plot was shaky and the ending? well the less said about that the better

Gutsy and Tough Thriller - Killer Joe review by GI

A topnotch crime thriller with a noirish style to it and a fantastic cast. Based on a play this has moved seamlessly to cinema under the experienced direction of William Friedkin. Matthew McConaughey plays the sinister and smooth Joe, a police detective who moonlights as a contract killer, hired by Texas trailer trash drug dealer Emile Hirsch to murder his mother so he can cash in on her life insurance. Gina Gershon and Thomas Haden Church are the stepmother and father who agree to the plan wanting the cash and the always fantastic Juno Temple is Dottie the sister who Joe takes an obsessive liking to. Everyone has their own agenda and the plot has some great twists. It's not an action film although there are some very brutal moments but the script is faultless and the tension of the narrative is superb. This is highly recommended.