Killer Joe

William Friedkin's Killer Joe (US, 2011) - The ghost of Tennessee Williams meets the spirit of Quentin Tarantino in William Friedkin’s vastly entertaining black comedy thriller Killer Joe. Putting its strictly-for-grownups cards on the table with a muff shot in the very first minute, this fast-paced and often violent post-recession contract killer film just occasionally betrays the theatrical mannerisms of the play it’s adapted from. But Friedkin’s confident direction and some tasty performances - especially by Matthew McConaughey as psychotic hitman Killer Joe, and Juno Temple as his underaged love interest - help to paper over the odd line of clever off-Broadway stage dialogue. 2011TOR, 2011VENic, 2012EDI, 2012SEA. *** 1/2.