Killer Joe (2012)

10th November 2012

Your going to pay me for a service I’m going to perform

A film revolving around a sadistic Dallas cop who also happens to moonlight as a hit man is not what you would usually expect from Mathew McConaughey, but in this fierce blood thirsty disturbing thrill ride set amongst the back drop of Dallas trailer trash, full of killer lines and killer characters what’s not to like!

William Friedkin will perhaps always be best know for his earlier work most notably The French Connection, and The Exorcist, Killer Joe could well join this list as the brutally gruesome bone-crunchingly violent film is sure to stay with you long after the credits role. Adapted from the play by Tracy Letts and collaborating again with William Friedkin (the pair turned Bug into a film). Boasting an impressive cast of Matthew McConaughey (‘Killer’ Joe Cooper), Emile Hirsch (Chris Smith), Juno Temple (Dottie Smith), Gina Gershon (Sharla Smith) and Thomas Haden Church (Ansel Smith) prepare for one disturbing ride.

The plot revolves around Chris who after having his drug stash stolen by his own mother has to come up with six thousand dollars or he is dead. He is desperate and turns to his father Ansel for help and a plan to save his life, of course the plan sounds simple kill Chris’s mother because no one really likes her anyway. This would resolves all their problems the life insurance alone would clear them of their debt not to mention they could be rich. Could it really be that easy?

Killer Joe is a professional he can do this right

They enlist the help of ‘Killer’ Joe Cooper a Dallas cop who likes to take a walk on the wild side in the form of being a hit man but when Chris and Ansel are unable to come up with twenty five thousand dollars cash upfront he requires for the kill he asks for Dottie as a retainer until he receives the money.

I heard y’all all talking about killing mama I think it’s a good idea

Chris and Ansel somewhat reluctantly hand over of Dottie who has a somewhat fitting name for her character, to Joe which is more than slightly disturbing as Dottie is left crying in her room before having ‘dinner’ with him. Of course things don’t run as smooth as planned and after Joe performs the kill on Adele ‘Mama’ it turns out the sole beneficiary is not in fact Dottie but Rex ‘Mama’s’ boyfriend. The family are now in turmoil as they have no way to pay not only Joe but the drug dealers who are hell bent on tracking Chris down for the money he owes. Cue another twist as Rex is not only the boyfriend of Mama but also the current lover of Sharla, Ansel’s wife who has orchestrated the set up in order to collect the money from the life insurance but of course Rex has of course split town without her with the money.

Joe is that last person you would like to turn up at your trailer uninvited and the last person you would want to catch you in a lie. This is unfortunate for Sharla as he catches her in a lie that unravels the whole web, cue the disturbing fried chicken moment!He also informs the family he is taking Dottie with him as payment for the kill, something Chris is against and ultimately leads to a truly bloody showdown, involving fists, face smashing, a tin of pumpkin and a gun.

I don’t think you will ever look at fried chicken in the same way ever again…Enjoy!

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