Killer Joe (2011)

Plot of Killer Joe: Chris Smith is a drug dealer whose drugs were stolen by his mother and hence owes a lot to his supplier. He goes to the trailer occupied by his dad, step mother and sister Dottie. Dottie seems to have limited mental capacity, possibly caused by her being almost strangled by her mother when a baby.  To get money Chris has a plan which is to kill his other for her life insurance which will be inherited by Dottie. It is agreed and he hires contract killer Joe Cooper, who kills people while moonlighting from being a detective. But Joe wants his fee up front. They have no money so they offer him Dottie who is a virgin, with her agreement. Chris on finding out that the beneficiary of the insurance will be Rex, the mother’s boyfriend, decides to call off the hit, only to find that Joe has already done the job, and things go downhill from there.

Content: There is a lot of female nudity and some almost sex. There is an infamous scene where Sharla, the step mother is forced by Joe to engage in a simulated blow job, on a  chicken drumstick, while he pretends to become excited. The guys constantly drink beer from cans. A dog, chained up close to the trailer barks viciously at everyone who passes. Chris is beaten up by the drug dealer’s heavies. The interior of the trailer is oppressive and within it the violence gradually escalates.

A View: This film, although well liked by the critics, did not make any money, possibly because of its limited release since cinemas are not keen on showing NC-17 films. I had never heard of it, so probably like everyone who has seen it was a bit shocked as all was revealed. I admit to not getting all the dialogue since it was all in broad southern. Being an old Brit I have found the accent quite difficult even face to face. But what can I say, it is not a film for everyone, but maybe for you if you like black comedy.

Fun Fact: Tracy Letts, the writer, plays Henry Ford in Le Mans ’66 in a wonderful scene when he is given a ride in a GT40.