Bill C’s Review 3.5 out of 5
Matthew McConaughey gives a very good performance as Killer Joe, a policeman by day and a hit man by night. He is hired by a family that needs the insurance money from knocking off the mother/ex-wife.
Killer Joe is rated NC-17 due to violence and the rating is well earned. This is a dark comedy with much of the comedy coming in the final third with McConaughey’s very polite but ruthless character. There are also good performances by Thomas Haden Church, Gina Gershon and Juno Temple. The excellent screenplay was written by Tracey Letts based on his play (he also wrote August Osage County) and is well directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection and The Exorcist)
It’s a good story with some good twists and surprises thrown in and if you don’t mind the violence you should check this out.