This week was going to be a showcase of Tim Burton's latest animated feature Frankenweenie. However, Tim's latest is just another mediocre production from a man whose name used to actually mean something. Certainly it's not the worst child's entertainment, but from Tim, merely OK always seems like a disappointment.
So instead we'll head to the absolute opposite end of the viewing spectrum by introducing you to the recently released Killer Joe. We should start by saying this is not a movie for everyone and thrillers/dark comedies do not get more intensely twisted than this piece of redneck crazy. Here Matthew McConaughey stars in a breakaway role as a Texas detective/hitman in what can best be described as a trailer-trash version of Double Indemnity.
We open hip-deep in the trailer park where Emile Hirsch pays a visit to his father-in-law to start the ball rolling to kill his mother and get the insurance money. The rest of the family seems to be OK with it and they bring in the detective/killer for hire. From there it's a non-stop hillbilly shock fest with dark comedy and plot twists aplenty.
Sure, it ends with some pretty over-the-top shock for shock's sake, but that can almost be forgiven because of the most anti-product placement I've ever seen. Product placement is a necessary evil in today's viewing entertainment world and quite often it's annoying. So it's nice to see a product be featured in such an appalling, reprehensible and damaging way that they probably would have paid a lot not to be associated.
In closing, I must reiterate - while I enjoyed this film and it made plenty of "best of" lists, you have been warned. I don't want to take any credit/blame for any scarring this film will cause. But if you do see it - don't see it alone because you're going to need to talk to somebody after you stop laughing/crying.
All available at Highland Video, the best/last video store on Earth.
