I had a really difficult time deciding what to say about this movie and I am not sure I know even now, but here goes. This is film by William Friedkin who has done some great films in the past including The Exorcist which is arguably one of the best ever horror movies ever made, Sorcerer (little known but great thriller), The Night they Raided Minsky’s and of course The French Connection. He has also done some really bad movies and I am not sure into which category this fits. It is based on a play by Tracy Letts that ran off-Broadway for nine months. On stage it might very well have been better. The story is of another sad set of family and friends from, where else? Texas. Poor, uneducated, alcohol and drug addicted, the son, daughter and former husband plot to hire a killer to do in their mother for the insurance money. Mathew McConaughey plays Killer Joe – the man they hire. He demands to be paid up front but since they need the insurance money to pay him he accepts a retainer instead – the daughter. The film is able to enhance the sex and violence really to the point of being near pornographic in both cases. Of course everything goes horribly wrong and the ending is a huge question mark – literally. I can’t reveal the story because it has several surprise twists and to know ahead what happens would be to spoil the movie for you. Needless to say, however, this is not a movie for the faint of heart, or for anyone at all squeamish about graphic violence. McConaughey is very good at playing total, menacing evil. So if that is at all attractive to you then you are in for treat. Although I can assure you, you won’t be bored, I am still not sure if this is a good movie so if you see it, perhaps you can tell me. McConaughey is actually a very good actor – if you have not seen The Lincoln Lawyer yet and you want to see McConaughey act and avoid the violence, it’s a good alternative.