Killer Joe Directed by: William Friedkin Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church Rating: NC-17 Release Date: July 27, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: Where is one to begin with this little piece of southern madness? There’s the NC-17 rating, the fact that it is William Friedkin’s first film since Bug (a polarizing film, but one I love), Matthew McConaughey looking perfectly cast, and someone getting their head bashed in by a can of pumpkin pie filling. What? Nobody said Killer Joe was going to be classy.
One of the quotes used here mentions that the film is funny, something I hope proves true. There are flashes – “That’s not appropriate dinner conversation, Dottie” – but not much. I imagine there will be more pitch black humor once we get a chance to see things play out in context.
Friedkin got fantastic performances from Michael Shannon and Ashley Judd in Bug, and it looks like he might repeat that with the cast he’s assembled this time. Everyone looks good – hopefully this will help get Emile Hirsch back on track so he can deliver on the promise of Into the Wild and Milk – but it’s McConaughey who stands out. Other than an unfortunate run of romantic comedies he has given some really good performances. Frailty is among his best, but even last year he shined in The Lincoln Lawyer. Let the resurgence of McConaughey continue strong!
I’m thrilled they aren’t trying to get the NC-17 reduced to an R. Even with this not being red band it’s clear that it’ll be dirty, and this trailer gives no reason to think it will fail to deliver on the poster’s tagline: “A totally twisted deep-fried Texas redneck trailer park murder story.” Mmm, you had me at “deep-fried.”