Killer Joe (C or 2/4 stars)
Eager for an NC-17 rated violent, atmospheric, exploitation thriller with hints of black comedy? Well, I offer you 'Killer Joe' (directed by William Friedkin, The Exorcist, yes, THAT Exorcist). Based on a play, the story transpires in a Texas trailer park {woohoo!} - and opens with a 'well, hello there' shot of a woman's panty-less torso answering a door. Chris (Emile Hirsch) has come home to ask his father, Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), for $1,000 to help clear a gambling debt. Ansel informs his son that he doesn't have that $$. Initially disappointed, Chris reveals that he has a back-up plan. His alcoholic mom (Ansel's ex-wife) recently took out a life insurance plan with Chris' sister, Dottie (Juno Temple), as beneficiary. Dottie lives with Ansel & his new wife, Sharla (Gina Gerson, of Showgirls).
All they must do is hire a hit man to kill 'ole mom & they can split the proceeds. Chris even has a killer in mind: Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a cop who does some "contract work" on the side. After contacting Joe, they learn there's one problem: he demands a $25,000 fee up front. Promising him a cut of the insurance $$ just won't do, but he is willing to accept a postponed payment in return for Dottie! And, having been charmed by him, she seems willing to go along with the deal. Ansel & Sharla like the idea. In fact, worried that she's still a virgin at age 21, Ansel comments, "might do her some good". Only Chris is reluctant of this situation, & his problematic financial predicament limits his options in stopping it. Everything culminates in one loony, sexually-twisted, & bloody climax.
For better or worse, this trailer-park film noir holds nothing back. The violence is BRUTAL & graphic. The sex is mostly disturbing. The nudity is exploitative. The dialogue is as trashy as the ugly characters. And yet, and yetttt ... it's all skillfully (if not sophisticatedly) handled by director Friedkin. This means that even if you HATE the film (as many may), you can't say that it isn't well done or predictable. Friedkin somehow balances all the sleazy absurdities. And while you can't call this film 'pretty', his cinematographer Caleb Deschanel does a great job framing what we see & creating a distinct tone/atmosphere -- this film could figuratively drip with grease from a southern fried chicken if it could. Killer Joe's tendency for depravity seems to know no bounds. i.e., there's a chicken leg scene that is one of the most bizarre, obscene sequences I've witnessed in a film in quite a while. But so, too, is there dark, bleak humor that permeates the script.
McConaughey gives Killer Joe a peculiarly suave yet lethal appeal. His cocky strut, his creepy stare, his hunger for sadistic violence, the seductive delivery of the vivid lines of sinister, skin-crawling dialogue ... it all works. Other than the humiliating chicken leg scene, Gina Gershon doesn't have much to do, but she makes quite the memorable 1st impression (panty-less). And though the character of Dottie is little more than a male fantasy caricature than a fully fleshed out human being, Juno Temple's acting choices impressed me. ALL that said, and depravity aside, my biggest issue with the film is that aside from McConaughey & Temple, the dialogue (as written) does not sound natural off the tongues of the characters, and the actors over-do the delivery of those lines with too much volume & theatricality.
And so, I feel that some appreciation of the exploitation genre is absolutely mandatory for enjoying 'Killer Joe'. Most viewers are likely to be shocked, offended, & horrified. Some people may love that the film offers a commentary on the depths of human immorality. I certainly did not like the cruel, vile nature of the story or some of the acting choices, but I also have to appreciate the boldness of the project, and that it offers some strange pleasures along the way. And though the last 5 minutes go off the rails, the blood-drenched, open-ended finale does work in its own context. I respect the skill & (notion of) audacity in 'Killer Joe' (B rating), but I did not empathize with these people or appreciate the exploitative meanness on display (D rating) ... so I'll give this a C. Enter the film at your own peril.
All they must do is hire a hit man to kill 'ole mom & they can split the proceeds. Chris even has a killer in mind: Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a cop who does some "contract work" on the side. After contacting Joe, they learn there's one problem: he demands a $25,000 fee up front. Promising him a cut of the insurance $$ just won't do, but he is willing to accept a postponed payment in return for Dottie! And, having been charmed by him, she seems willing to go along with the deal. Ansel & Sharla like the idea. In fact, worried that she's still a virgin at age 21, Ansel comments, "might do her some good". Only Chris is reluctant of this situation, & his problematic financial predicament limits his options in stopping it. Everything culminates in one loony, sexually-twisted, & bloody climax.
For better or worse, this trailer-park film noir holds nothing back. The violence is BRUTAL & graphic. The sex is mostly disturbing. The nudity is exploitative. The dialogue is as trashy as the ugly characters. And yet, and yetttt ... it's all skillfully (if not sophisticatedly) handled by director Friedkin. This means that even if you HATE the film (as many may), you can't say that it isn't well done or predictable. Friedkin somehow balances all the sleazy absurdities. And while you can't call this film 'pretty', his cinematographer Caleb Deschanel does a great job framing what we see & creating a distinct tone/atmosphere -- this film could figuratively drip with grease from a southern fried chicken if it could. Killer Joe's tendency for depravity seems to know no bounds. i.e., there's a chicken leg scene that is one of the most bizarre, obscene sequences I've witnessed in a film in quite a while. But so, too, is there dark, bleak humor that permeates the script.
McConaughey gives Killer Joe a peculiarly suave yet lethal appeal. His cocky strut, his creepy stare, his hunger for sadistic violence, the seductive delivery of the vivid lines of sinister, skin-crawling dialogue ... it all works. Other than the humiliating chicken leg scene, Gina Gershon doesn't have much to do, but she makes quite the memorable 1st impression (panty-less). And though the character of Dottie is little more than a male fantasy caricature than a fully fleshed out human being, Juno Temple's acting choices impressed me. ALL that said, and depravity aside, my biggest issue with the film is that aside from McConaughey & Temple, the dialogue (as written) does not sound natural off the tongues of the characters, and the actors over-do the delivery of those lines with too much volume & theatricality.
And so, I feel that some appreciation of the exploitation genre is absolutely mandatory for enjoying 'Killer Joe'. Most viewers are likely to be shocked, offended, & horrified. Some people may love that the film offers a commentary on the depths of human immorality. I certainly did not like the cruel, vile nature of the story or some of the acting choices, but I also have to appreciate the boldness of the project, and that it offers some strange pleasures along the way. And though the last 5 minutes go off the rails, the blood-drenched, open-ended finale does work in its own context. I respect the skill & (notion of) audacity in 'Killer Joe' (B rating), but I did not empathize with these people or appreciate the exploitative meanness on display (D rating) ... so I'll give this a C. Enter the film at your own peril.