It seems to have been a conscious decision on Matthew McConaughey's part to distance himself from the romantic comedies that have made up the bulk of his output over the last decade or so. Though this doesn't represent his first movement away from those films, Killer Joe certainly marks an extreme, as much in the film itself as the actor.
The strength of the film is in the character of Joe himself. He is enigmatic, but it's clear from the very beginning that he is not a man you want to cross (and not only due to his secondary occupation). McConaughey really shows what he's capable of here and it's a great achievement on his part that the role feels so full, despite the fact that so little is revealed about him through exposition. In addition to some beautifully subtle hints from behind the camera about what kind of person this really is, there are an abundance of equally understated ticks and mannerisms in the performance that sharpen his image considerably further.
Aside from the titular role, there are more than a few other aspects that make for deliberately uncomfortable viewing. In particular, the relationship between Hirsch's Chris and his sister, Dottie (Juno Temple) is unsettling in its intimacy. Like the rest of the first hour, the more disturbing aspects are implied, rather than announced and you're gently coaxed to interpretations that ultimately leave little to the imagination.
As the film gets going, it's unclear in which sort of direction we are headed. Whilst it's apparent that it probably won't end well for all concerned, predictability is not an affliction that the picture is plagued with, though it does a great job of fooling you into thinking that it might be. In the same way that the main character's appearance as a walking cliché belies his shockingly callous nature, the movie lays the foundations of what could easily become something much more ordinary. This sets up the last twenty minutes of the action perfectly and makes for a brutal jolt of a conclusion that reveals the true face of Joe's twisted psyche.
It's not often that this sort of misdirection is so devastatingly effective and the level of depth is impressive. It definitely won't be to everyone's taste, but the combination of expert storytelling and McConaughey's intimidating menace make this almost essential viewing. It's just unfortunate that a side effect of having foundations that seem uninspired is that that's exactly how they feel, uninspired.
The Verdict:
7.5/10
An explosive performance from McConaughey and some twisted imagination make for a subtly intense film that builds to a conclusion that will linger long in the memory.
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