Click here for the review of Killer Joe

SPOILERS must be tagged with the "SPOILER" tag!

My ex and I went to see this thinking it might be a slasher flick. Turns out we were way off, but still throughly enjoyed it.

Won't be looking at chicken legs the same way soon.

Speaking of which,

By this point, people at my screening were actually laughing awkwardly. Brilliant. Nobody walked out though!

Bernie too.

Definitely will see Killer Joe although it will most likely be when it comes to Netflix.

I recommend seeing it in the cinema, as the audience reactions are priceless!

Really, really curious about the so-called "chicken leg" scene, but also would like to see it for myself some day (a long day away, since the chance of something this extreme coming here is pretty slim), so can anyone tell some very vague things for me in spoiler tag? Maybe two other things that are involved, like "Chicken leg and ... and ... " so I would have some general ideas but no detail of how they connect or play out?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that "vajayjay" is one of those two things

Cheers,
Dave

I had to take a trip to DC to see this, but it was worth it. I've seen some movies where the NC-17 is debatable (like the "unrated" cut of American Psycho and Lust, Caution) but this one earns it for sure. It's amoral and twisted as hell, and not a single character is likable, but wow what a ride. Props to Freidkin for not giving in to the MPAA and compromising his vision just to make more money at the box office.

Speaking of which, multiplexes ought to let these movies have a chance every now and then.

Did you see this at the E Street Cinema? My girlfriend and I were thinking about going, but we were too busy this weekend. She's also unsure if she wants to sit through something like this.

I firmly believe that this, like certain movies, is something that you probably should sit through anyway. Just so you can say you've seen what cinema can be like!

I sure did. Its a really nice theater and they clearly care about their customers. The ticket was $11 but I'd gladly plunk down that amount again for a place that's as well kept as this one.

Finally got around to checking this one out and I gotta say that considering the NC-17 rating, I was expecting things to go much further over-the-top than they ultimately did (about the only thing the was truly shocking to me was the now-infamous chicken leg scene) but there was still enough violence, kinkiness, depravity and dark comedy for me to dig this one. I also appreciated not knowing exactly where the plot was headed, which definitely upped the suspense inherent in the proceedings. Also, between this and The Lincoln Lawyer, I am also now fully convinced of Matthew McConaughey's talent. In the former, an argument could be made that he was still mining familiar territory (the role could basically be considered a throwback to his breakthrough role in A Time To Kill) but here, he steps outside of his persona to play what has to be the darkest, most twisted character of his career. For his part, he is still as charming and charismatic as ever but there is always a sense of malevolence and menace underneath the cool and smooth exterior that comes out in the most shocking of ways from time to time (such as the chicken leg scene). I would argue for an Oscar-nomination here but the controversial nature of the movie and the role will rule that out (the nomination does seem likely for Magic Mike, which I've yet to see but might need to check out now). The rest of the cast doesn't quite reach McConaughey's level but they do their best to hold their own. Thomas Hayden Church brings a understated, dry wit to his role as the dim-witted Ansel, Emilie Hirsch gives a reasonable approximation of desperation for his part as Chris. Gina Gershon doesn't have as much to do except act slutty and trashy and get seriously degraded in one scene, but it's always nice to see Gershon on screen (and she is still incredibly attractive even though she's now a pentagenarian). I would say that the second strongest impression besides McConaughey is made by the young British actress as Dottie, Chris's younger sister (and Ansel's daughter). Not only does she don an incredibly sexy and nearly flawless (at least from my perspective) Texan accent but she effectively brings out both the vixen and the virgin in her portrayal. It takes a great director to hold this all together and William Friedkin has proven himself over the year to be just that. This may not be up to the same level as The French Connection or To Live and Die in L.A. but it's provides more than enough proof that this director's edge doesn't get dulled with age. An easy *** out of ****.

I'm with oafolay to a point, though he liked it FAR more than I did. NC-17? over a chicken leg? Seriously? What about this movie was NC-17 except for a gratuitous shot of Gina Gerson's bush?

If the actors in this movie were not so accomplished, I wsould have given it one star, whereas at least seeing Church do his best idiot savant was worth 2 stars (OK, and seeing June's & Gina's pussy added a bit, I guess)

But still, this was NOTHING like I was expecting. WHere was the over thye top violence and sex? Was there really even any sex in this whatsoever? Was Gina getting punched worth an NC-17?

I kept waiting and waiting to be horrified and offended, and it never came. About the closest anything came to offending me was the GOD AWFUL cinematography. Painfully obvious digital is just plain unwatchable, even if it is an attempt at 21st century drive-in grindhouse.

Not really sure James & I saw the same movie here. Boring and bad and even a little annoying overacting by Emile as well. Dottie & Ansel (great name, btw) are the only redeeming characters, and I can only imagine how bad Ansel would have been played by a lesser actor.

Actually you don't see Gina's pussy because she's wearing a merkin (damn this shaving trend ). I got my blu-ray of this in the mail a few days ago and will likely end up watching it Christmas Eve (how appropriate, eh? ). There's no way I won't dislike it; it's just a matter of to what degree I will like it.

Its full on bush, my friend... and its the only reason I see for NC-17. Suck my fried chicken was just plain stupid.

It was extremely underwhelming.

First film of 2013 What a bizarre and twisted film. I'm still not fully sure what to make of it, but it sure wasn't boring. Matthew McCounaghey is really the standout here because he owns the title role, but Juno Temple was pretty good too. I wasn't completely sold on some of the other performances (Haden, Gershon, or Hirsch), but in the end, it all kinda worked, in that sick and twisted way. That final climatic scene at the table was something else. I won't grade it as of yet, but this sure is worth a watch for anyone else who's ready for something odd.

Here's my blog entry for the film.

Hey Thief12, are you the same Thief who is in the rottentomatoes forum?

BTW, I have watched this film and enjoyed it for its trashiness and performances, but was surprised with NC-17 rating. Maybe it was perversion on my part, but when I heard vaguely that the "chicken leg" scene made its NC-17 rating, my mind definitely went to dirtier places than this. I mean, no one's clothes are even removed. If anything, I find the sudden violence that happened right before the scene more shocking and disturbing (and bloody).

Um did you and I watch the same movie because I clearly recall full-frontal from Juno Temple and bush shots from both her and Gina Gershon. Also there was a scene in a strip joint that featured some titties. Maybe you saw the edited R-rated version, no?

I think he meant during the chicken leg scene, but I could be wrong.