Killer Joe is based on a play, and its transition to screen is quite clunky, with the exception of one classic William Friedkin chase scene in the middle of the film which is filmed with characteristic skill and effectiveness. The cast ranges from pretty good (Juno Temple, who is way too talented to be wasted in crap like this) to decent (Matthew McConaughey) to execrable (Thomas Haden Church, who at this point should not even be called an actor, in my book.)

But the cast and the transition from play to screen are kind of beside the point, because this material is so foul, stupid, and uninteresting that nothing was going to save this movie except not making it in the first place. Its predominant theme is a deep and abiding misogyny. Its secondary theme is run-of-the-mill gangster shit – stuff like “if you don’t have my money, I’m gonna wrap you in duct tape and bury you in a coffin ten feet deep.” There are no other themes of any kind.

Here’s a way to decide if Killer Joe is for you: the denouement of Killer Joe is a scene where McConaughey makes Church’s wife suck on a chicken drumstick (held as if it was his dick) for a good five minutes, in front of her entire family, while he carries on like he’s in a really disgusting porn movie – this is after he has severely disfigured her face with his fists, I might add. Man, if this shit floats your boat, have at it! For me, it’s just a fucking waste of time.