Killer Joe (2012)

90% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
96% want to see it
(1,389 ratings)

When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he's dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris's mother, who everyone… More When 22 year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with six-thousand dollars quick, or he's dead. Desperate, he goes to the trailer-park to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and he lays out the plan. Chris's mother, who everyone hates, has a life insurance policy that would clear up his debt and make them all rich. The problem is that Chris' mother is very much alive. Enter Detective "Killer" Joe Cooper, a hired hit man with the manners of a Southern gentleman, who will do the job - for an upfront fee, that Chris and Ansel can't pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris' innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he'll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid. -- (C) Voltage Pictures

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Rating, Runtime: NC-17, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: William Friedkin
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 27, 2012 Limited
Studio: Independent Pictures

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
McConaughey's fans might be shocked to see him in this role - more likely, they'd skip the opportunity - but they ought to give his performance a shot.
Laremy Legel, Film.com
Less about storytelling than depravity ...
Neil Young, Hollywood Reporter
Enjoyably cynical, blood-spattered noir-comedy elicits more laughs than thrills.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
It feels weird to say, 'I liked it,' but I know deep down, in places that feel uncomfortable, I loved it.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Friedkin takes what could have been a case study in trailer-trash miserabilism and produces something riveting, compassionate, and truly singular.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
McConaughey's performance as the Mephistophelean title character is one for the ages.
Chris Bumbray, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Essentially a filmed play, but McConaughey's performance is too good to ignore.
Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]
William Freidkin's film is full-frontal in every sense, an unabashed pulp romp stuffed with ugly acts and primal screams.
Noel Murray, AV Club
Killer Joe pitches to the rafters, amping up a hicksploitation thriller with unnecessary jolts of savage violence and abuse.
Lee Marshall, This is London
With Killer Joe, a black comedy thriller adapted from a play by Tracy Letts, Friedkin seems to have recaptured some of that youthful energy.