Killer Joe

William Friedkin is again at the top of his game. Killer Joe is a thriller with a not very original plot, but it compensates that with several pleasantly unexpected twists, an uncompromisingly dirty atmosphere and fantastic performances by most of the people involved. Most of the attention is drawn by the wonderfully sleazy Matthew McConaughey, his Joe will no doubt be one of the best film villains of the year. The other actors are also very good, only Emile Hirsch was a little unconvincing. One of the most pleasant surprises in recent years, thumbs up. Very intense climax. 9/10 (19/10/2012)

Amazing acting, dialogue scenes like in a Tarantino film, and an incredibly precise redneck touch. Essentially, very good filmmaking, I just didn't quite understand why it all came about in the first place. In most films of a similar nature, there is more or less a hidden message that you have to read between the lines. I couldn't find it here. Very gratuitous, as if Friedkin was trying to prove that he still has the chops. (26/10/2014)

So one day, you’re going through Matthew McConaughey’s movies and watch all of these American hillbillies hanging out with him. His role in this movie – killer Joe – is basically the only normally thinking person in this entire movie. Even though he also has his “moments”. For example, the ending is a downright delicacy for movie connoisseurs. But the people he surrounds himself with are the sorts of characters who look like they’ve had five pints of beer and escaped from a loony bin. Their behavior, actions, reactions to certain situations… nothing here makes any sense. To be honest, I didn’t get it. And I was fascinated by Juno Temple who is apparently twelve in this movie. What?! Well, in any case, I have to say that the movie had balls and that’s why I’m rating it three stars. (13/04/2014)

Rednecks... Killer Joe has a very usual plot, but everything else about it is very unusual. McConaughey revels in his slimy villainy and he does great. The heated finale ranks among the best and also the most freaky that I’ve seen during past years. The cast is excellent and mainly William Friedkin shows the best in him. (19/10/2012)

The ace up William Friedkin’s sleeve is not the plot but the eccentricity of its characters and what it can lead to. That is, what they’re capable of and how they deal with situations gone wrong in their redneck shortsightedness. An excellent “chicken blowjob” scene. I didn’t hope for anything like this from Matthew McConaughey in the age of A Time to Kill and Amistad. This actor is rising to the stars! And it’s not just him, the entire cast is excellent here. A brutal movie with big balls and a not exactly sound mind. (24/11/2012)