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Killer Joe

Play trailer Poster for Killer Joe TV-MA 2011 1h 41m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 168 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
A cop (Matthew McConaughey) who moonlights as a hit man agrees to kill the hated mother of a desperate drug dealer (Emile Hirsch) in exchange for a tumble with the young man's virginal sister (Juno Temple).
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Killer Joe

Killer Joe

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Critics Consensus

Violent, darkly comic, and full of strong performances, Killer Joe proves William Friedkin hasn't lost his touch, even if the plot may be too lurid for some.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Long Detroit News If you like your movies filled with twisted humor, sexual perversion, psychological intimidation and sudden violence, "Killer Joe" is the flick for you. Rated: B Aug 31, 2012 Full Review Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch Watching "Killer Joe" to the bitter end is like playing the Pick 6 lottery and getting three of the numbers right. You don't win anything, but you still think you're smarter than all those other idiots. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 24, 2012 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic [Friedkin] has retained his touch ... all these years later. And in Matthew McConaughey, he has the perfect vehicle for madness. Rated: 4/5 Aug 23, 2012 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review In Killer Joe, director William Friedkin reaches magnificent new lows as he descends into playwright Tracy Letts' world of southern-fried depravity, stupidity, sexuality, and possibly (almost certainly) madness. Rated: 4/4 Oct 3, 2022 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine Killer Joe is pitched squarely as a rotted black comedy of errors, a cavalcade of one disaster after another from a bunch of fools tripping over themselves in the pursuit of the one thing that drives America: Greed Rated: 8.5/10 Sep 23, 2022 Full Review Kip Mooney College Movie Review You won't see anything else like it this year. Rated: B Sep 18, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daniel B Me resultó interesante la forma en la que “Killer Joe” crítica las diferentes vertientes de la violencia, y cómo esta misma termina volviéndose una norma en cientos de sectores marginados. Pero a pesar de este ser el eje central de la historia, para mí en ciertos puntos esta misma violencia termina siendo más un espectáculo que una crítica intencionada; hay momentos fantásticos cómo la escena climática en la cocina, pero también hay momentos de desnudez sobre todo en la apertura de la cinta, que mínimo yo percibí cómo sensacionalistas y que realmente no aportan en el desarrollo de la trama. Y se vuelve aún más notorio con la poca profundidad de la trama principal de esta historia, realmente no tiene un desarrollo continuo dentro de la misma, y los acontecimientos terminan por sentirse fortuitos, el guion no creo una anticipación para crear un sentimiento de angustia a lo largo de toda la película. Durante toda su duración nunca terminé de sentir si esta historia realmente era una visión al USA real, lejos de las grandes ciudades dónde tanto las oportunidades cómo las aspiraciones son más limitadas o una critica mal estructurada que termina reforzando clichés de las personas menos privilegiadas del país de forma burda y simplista. Al final tengo que reconocer que hay cosas que enserio valoré de esta película, la normalización de la violencia en escenas puntuales me pareció fabulosa, realmente terminas sintiéndote mal, al igual que la espectacular estructura del momento climático de esta película, todo lo que debió ser la película esta desarrollado de una forma hermosa en esta escena, es larga, con pocos cortes, con primeros planos que aumentan la tensión, la violencia que gira alrededor de esta historia está más que presente, y con una anticipación que agregan más suspenso a esta escena. Realmente este montaje para mi terminó salvando a la película. Para mi lo mejor de esta película fueron las actuaciones, todos están fabulosos y le dotan a esta película de una tridimensionalidad muy interesante en la forma de actuar y expresarse de sus personajes. Para mi Killer Joe a pesar de no terminar de conectar con ella, para mí si terminó exponiendo de buena forma su crítica sobre cómo la ambición nos termina corrompiendo a todos, de una forma u otra, todos somos victima de ella, ya sea desde un policía que es asesino por capricho, hasta un apostador que está dispuesto a dar la vida de su madre. Siendo nuestra única diferencia, que tan profundo estamos en el pozo. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review J P Hilarious, extremely likable characters, and interesting story. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Raven L absolutely outstanding! solid acting all round. dark, twisted.. just the way I like my flicks. those saying it's the worst movie ever clearly haven't watched many movies. so much trash out there and this is definitely not in that category. MM is amazing as the strong dominant male with no apology for who he is. Dotti is just gorgeous. i truly loved this just not sure about the ending, would have liked to see Dotti n Joe ride off into the sunset but it was left a little ambiguous as to what choice Dotti makes. fantastic¡ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review dude d lol very dark humour. white trash movie. i enjoyed it. Never heard of it. MM was good.... funny Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review Daulton C I watched this movie two years ago… I think about it EVERY DAY. I cannot, even a little bit, comprehend how a person watched this movie and remotely enjoyed it. I watch every type of movie I can. I consider myself a connoisseur. This is THE worst movie I have ever seen and it doesn’t even come close. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone involved with this movie should have to write a handwritten apology letter to anyone who has the misfortune of watching it. If you’re looking for a train wreck of a film, look no further. I watched this with some roommates years ago and we still quote some of the worst lines. This movie is SO bad I actually recommend you watch it yourself so you can bring it up to people in the future. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/17/24 Full Review Victor W "Killer Joe" is the kind of movie that makes you question your life choices—specifically, the choice to watch it. Matthew McConaughey's performance as a creepy hitman is unsettlingly good, but the plot is a chaotic mix of dysfunctional family drama and dark humor that left me more confused than entertained. The film's penchant for shock value, especially the infamous fried chicken scene, made me reconsider my fast food preferences. If you enjoy feeling uncomfortable and slightly nauseous, this might be the movie for you. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Killer Joe

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Movie Info

Synopsis A cop (Matthew McConaughey) who moonlights as a hit man agrees to kill the hated mother of a desperate drug dealer (Emile Hirsch) in exchange for a tumble with the young man's virginal sister (Juno Temple).
Director
William Friedkin
Producer
Nicolas Chartier, Scott Einbinder
Screenwriter
Tracy Letts
Production Co
Voltage Pictures, Ana Media
Rating
TV-MA, R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Strong Disturbing Violence|Language|Sexuality)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
1h 41m
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