Killer Joe (2011)

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

Tracy Letts (screenplay)
Tracy Letts (play)

Release Date:

29 June 2012 (Ireland)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Murder never tasted so good.

Plot:

When a debt puts a young man's life in danger, he turns to putting a hit out on his evil mother in order to collect the insurance.

Plot Keywords:

Debt | Police | Police Detective | Murder | Loss Of Mother

Awards:

5 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Matthew McConaughey	...	Killer Joe Cooper
Emile Hirsch	...	Chris Smith
Juno Temple	...	Dottie Smith
Thomas Haden Church	...	Ansel Smith
Gina Gershon	...	Sharla Smith
Marc Macaulay	...	Digger Soames
Gralen Bryant Banks	...	Pizza Patron (as Graylen Banks)
Carol Sutton	...	Saleslady
Danny Epper	...	G-Man
Jeff Galpin	...	Biker Thug
Scott A. Martin	...	Pizza Manager (as Scott Martin)
Gregory C. Bachaud	...	Filpatrick
Charley Vance	...	Preacher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julia Adams	...	Adele (uncredited)
Geraldine Glenn	...	Pizza Patron (uncredited)
Sean O'Hara	...	Rex (uncredited)
Blain Sanchez	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Tony Severio	...	Pizza Patron (uncredited)
Lynette Zumo	...	Waitress (uncredited)

Directed by
William Friedkin

Writing credits
Tracy Letts		(screenplay)
Tracy Letts		(play "Killer Joe")

Produced by
Nicolas Chartier	....	producer
Vicki Cherkas	....	executive producer
Molly Conners	....	executive producer
Scott Einbinder	....	producer
Zev Foreman	....	executive producer
Laurence Freed	....	co-executive producer
Patrick Newall	....	co-producer
Jamin O'Brien	....	co-executive producer
Eli Selden	....	associate producer
Roman Viaris-de-Lesegno	....	executive producer (as Roman Viaris)
Ryan Westheimer	....	line producer
Doreen Wilcox Little	....	associate producer
Christopher Woodrow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Tyler Bates

Cinematography by
Caleb Deschanel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Darrin Navarro

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
Franco-Giacomo Carbone

Set Decoration by
Alice Baker

Costume Design by
Peggy A. Schnitzer		(as Peggy Schnitzer)

Makeup Department
Marcos Gonzales	....	key hair stylist
Krystal Kershaw	....	key makeup artist
Adrienne Lynn	....	assistant makeup artist (as Adrienne Booth)
Kent Richard	....	assistant hair stylist
Donna Spahn	....	assistant hair stylist (as Donna Spahn Jones)

Production Management
Jenn Lee	....	production supervisor
Patrick Newall	....	unit production manager
Toby Thiermann	....	assistant post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bott	....	second assistant director (as George R. Bott)
Nathan Parker	....	second second assistant director
Michael Salven	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Spencer J. Abadie	....	construction buyer (as Spencer Abadie)
Michael Arena	....	key greens
Patcharee Blanchard	....	set dresser/swing
Paul Blanchard	....	leadman
Charles Bodenheimer	....	painter
Rick Broderman	....	lead scenic artist
Chazz Campbell Daquin	....	greens
James Comiskey Jr.	....	construction gang boss (as James Comiskey)
Robin Durand	....	propmaker
Chris Edwards	....	set dresser/swing
Jeff Garbacz	....	propmaker
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	....	assistant property master
Wendy Guerrera	....	painter
Richard Guillot	....	propmaker
Chris Harbor	....	construction utility
Kim Harris	....	construction foreman
Mark T. Henderson	....	propmaker (as Mark Henderson)
James J. Hershey	....	propmaker (as James Hershey)
April LaBranche	....	art department coordinator
Nicole LaBranche	....	art department coordinator
Andrew H. Lewis	....	construction utility
Lindanne Lewis	....	painter
Vanessa Merrill	....	graphic designer
Cory Parker	....	on set dresser
Jason Portera	....	set dresser/swing
Sian C. Sanzone	....	painter (as Stan Sanzone)
Ember Soberman	....	painter
Courtney Talbot	....	set designer
David Lee Toth	....	set dresser/swing
Marcus Turchi	....	construction coordinator
David Tureau	....	greens
Richard Wolf	....	propmaker
Brook Yeaton	....	property master
Alixandra Petrovich	....	additional on-set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ruth Adelman	....	supervising adr editor
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Gregory Black	....	utility sound technician
Steve Boeddeker	....	sound designer
Trey Burvant	....	sound stage provider: Second Line Stages
Julio Carmona	....	adr recordist
Ross Davis	....	additional sound mixer
Alexandra Fehrman	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Haupt	....	sound mixer
Ruby C. Haupt	....	boom operator
James B. Howe	....	foley mixer (as James Howe)
Chad J. Hughes	....	sound effects editor (as Chad Hughes)
Aaron Levy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Aaron 'Luc' Levy)
Aaron Levy	....	supervising sound editor (as Aaron 'Luc' Levy)
Mace Matiosian	....	supervising sound editor
John Matter	....	assistant sound editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Kevin Murphy	....	sound stage provider: Second Line Stages
David Padilla	....	assistant sound editor
Gerald Palone	....	sound stage provider: Second Line Stages
Joseph T. Sabella	....	foley artist (as Joseph Sabella)
Jivan Tahmizian	....	dialogue editor
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Kevin McCullough	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Steve Papagiannis	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lloyd Burke	....	special effects foreman
Guy Clayton Jr.	....	special effects coordinator (as Guy Clayton)
Samantha Clayton	....	special effects clerk
Edward Joubert	....	special effects technician
Kip Taylor	....	special effects technician
Gene P. Whitney	....	special effects technician (as Gene Whitney)
Mandy Dormann	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jean Paul Demars	....	visual effects artist: Laser Pacific
Igor Lipski	....	visual effects artist: Laser Pacific
Ryan Noto	....	visual effects supervisor: Laser Pacific

Stunts
Bob Arnold	....	stunts
Troy Bellinghausen	....	stunts
Shane Dufrene	....	stunts (as Shane Dufrane)
Danny Epper	....	stunts
Christopher Guy Grant	....	assistant to stunt coordinator (as Christopher Grant)
Gary Guercio	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Julia Adams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Galpin	....	stunt performer: Thug #1 (uncredited)
Terra Grant	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Khader Alherimi	....	rigging electric
Khader Alherimi	....	rigging grip
Tarik Naim Alherimi	....	best boy electric (as Tarik Alherimi)
Tarik Naim Alherimi	....	rigging gaffer (as Tarik Alherimi)
Richard Ball	....	key grip
Skip Bolen	....	still photographer
Nathan Borck	....	digital imaging technician (as Nate Borck)
Sarah Bowman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Richard Brun	....	grip
Victor Brunette	....	video assist operator
Wesley Bryant	....	rigging electric
Michael Charbonnet	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stanley Chauvin	....	lamp operator
Jarrid Clinkinbeard	....	rigging electric
Tom Conrad	....	video playback/video
Duane Cooper	....	grip
Nezben Deason	....	rigging grip
Colette Delacroix	....	grip
Jonathan Dunn	....	rigging grip (as John Dunn)
Guy Fernandez	....	lamp operator
Robert Foster	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Stephen Fouasnon	....	camera data utilities
Brad Garris	....	generator operator: London
Brad Garris	....	lamp operator
Andrew Hawthorne	....	lamp operator
Dallas Hollomon	....	lamp operator
Richard T. Hoover	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Jason Jackson	....	s.two camera technician
Ronaldo Jackson	....	lamp operator
Richard Landry	....	best boy electric
Richard Landry	....	dimmer board operator
Kevin Luster	....	grip
Matthew Madden	....	rigging electric
Jade Maggio	....	rigging grip
Kiya Maggio	....	key rigging grip
Dennis McAuley	....	rigging grip
BJ McDonnell	....	camera operator: "a" camera
BJ McDonnell	....	steadicam operator
Aeron McKeough	....	camera data utilities
Christopher Meydrich	....	rigging electric (as Chris Meydrick)
Jonathan Morrill	....	rigging electric
Robert Morrison	....	grip
Adrian Neri	....	best boy grip
Paul Olinde	....	chief lighting technician
Jerone A. Ordon Sr.	....	grip
Jerome Ordone	....	grip (as Jerone Odon)
Donald Roth	....	rigging grip
Felipe Savahge	....	rigging electric
Derek A. Schwebel	....	video assist operator
Joshua Sepe	....	grip
James Allen Sheppard	....	video assist operator (as James Sheppard)
Stephanie Sousa	....	lamp operator
Jared Talbot	....	best boy rigging electric
Tommy Tieche	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Aaron Toups	....	grip
Jesse Valenzuela	....	rigging electric
Chad Vanko	....	rigging electric
Lydia Vincent	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Charles B. Walker	....	rigging electric (as Charles Walker)
Ryan P. Ward	....	best boy grip (as Ryan Ward)
Ryan P. Ward	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Ryan Ward)
Barney Williamson	....	rigging grip
Casey Zimmerman	....	rigging electric
Brigitte Faucheaux	....	tv playback operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Brent Caballero	....	casting: New Orleans
Ania Kamieniecki-O'Hare	....	casting associate (as Ania O'Hare)
Liz Ludwitzke	....	casting assistant
Hank Langlois	....	extras casting director (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erica Ball	....	costume production assistant
Allison Bauserman	....	set costumer
Colette Delacroix	....	cutter/fitter
Sharon Fauvel	....	ager/dyer
Nina C. Nichols	....	costume production assistant
Reiko Porter	....	key set costumer
Laura Faye Sirkin-Brown	....	costume production assistant (as Laura Sirkin-Brown)
Jennifer Starzyk	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Bob Allen	....	assistant editor
Robert Coquia Jr.	....	digital intermediate data management: Laser Pacific (as Robert Coquia)
Kyle DeVriendt	....	digital intermediate film recordist: Laser Pacific
Pavel Dvorak	....	digital intermediate data management: Laser Pacific
Erik Hakanen	....	digital intermediate data management: Laser Pacific
Ron Ischovitsch	....	digital intermediate conformer: Laser Pacific
Doug Jaqua	....	color science: Laser Pacific
Chris Lubbers	....	digital intermediate producer: Laser Pacific
Chris McGregor	....	digital intermediate data management: Laser Pacific
Bryan McMahan	....	digital intermediate colorist: Laser Pacific
David Slaughter	....	digital intermediate film recordist: Laser Pacific
Ron Stanik	....	on-line editor
Brian Beard	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
David Abplanalp-Estime	....	music clearance: High Bias Industries
C.C. Adcock	....	music supervisor (as CC Adcock)
Brian Cachia	....	musician: percussion
King Cotton	....	music consultant and soul supply
Alexandra Fehrman	....	music editor
Wolfgang Matthes	....	score mixer: Wanted Studios
Brian Cachia	....	music programmer (uncredited)
Joanne Higginbottom	....	musician (uncredited)
Joe Paganelli	....	additional music clearances (uncredited)
Michael Wickstrom	....	music clearance executive (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bruce Billings	....	driver
Michael Borreson	....	driver: Mc. McConaughey
Donald Burdett	....	transportation captain
John C. Chaney	....	driver: Mr. McConaughey (as John Chaney)
Paul Edwards	....	driver (as Paul R. Edwards)
George G. Everett	....	driver (as George Everett)
Wesley Gilbert	....	driver
Peter Gondrella	....	driver
Robert Husband	....	driver
Leroy Minor Jr.	....	driver
Mr. Greg Mitchell	....	driver (as Greg Mitchell)
Nick W. Pastrano	....	driver
Aaron Pigg	....	driver
Ron Poniewaz Jr.	....	transportation coordinator (as Ron Poniewaz)
Kenneth Rester	....	driver (as Ken Rester)
Roy Skaggs	....	driver
Reginald Smith	....	driver (as Reginald 'Trigger' Smith)
Willie C. Stringer Jr.	....	driver (as Willie Stringer)
Melvin Theriot	....	driver
Willie Williams Jr.	....	driver (as Willie Williams)

Other crew
Melanie Aymami	....	assistant craft service (as Melanie Burck)
Alfonso Barrientos	....	chef
Roy Barrios	....	construction medic
Fred Bernstein	....	insurance broker: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Jennifer L. Brooks	....	production accountant (as Jennifer Brooks)
Lee Brown	....	construction medic
Lauren Claret	....	accounting consultant
John Collins	....	location scout
Marisa Creed	....	accounting clerk
Reed Daigle	....	accounting clerk
Christian de Gallegos	....	international sales agent: Voltage Pictures
Nadine DeBarros	....	international sales agent: Voltage Pictures
Lauren Doyle	....	construction medic
Irene Flores	....	legal services: Eisner, Frank & Kahan
Mario Flores	....	chef assistant
Jason Fogelson	....	epk videographer
Darin Frank	....	legal services: Eisner, Frank & Kahan
Marcia Franklin	....	assistant: Mr. Friedkin
Lindsey Fredieu	....	set production assistant
Will French	....	financier: produced in association with Film Production
Mariana Furtado	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances/Film Finances Louisiana
Daniel Ippolito	....	office production assistant
Thomas D. Jennings	....	first assistant accountant
Thomas D. Jennings	....	payroll accountant
Viv June	....	international sales agent: Voltage Pictures
Otis Knighten	....	animal wrangler (as O.J. Knighten)
Katie Kuykendall	....	production secretary (as Katie Glisson)
Katie Kuykendall	....	production secretary
Charlotte Lancaster	....	assistant craft service
John Landers	....	key craft service (as John R. Landers)
Yvette LaPlace	....	location scout
John Lavis	....	set medic
Pierre Leblanc	....	financier: Gap Financing Privided by FIDEC, Entertainment
Mike Leonard	....	key set production assistant
Laura Marchese	....	travel agent: Travel Central
Alma Martinez	....	caterer: Alex in the Kitchen
Wilene Martinsen	....	assistant craft service
Candace Mayfield	....	assistant location manager
Lorrie McNaught	....	insurance broker: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
John A. Mmahat Jr.	....	location manager (as Johnny Mmahat)
Roberto S. Montoya	....	second assistant chef (as Roberto Montoya)
Matthew Moreno	....	international sales agent: Voltage Pictures
Emily Newell	....	production office manager
Erica Olivarez	....	travel coordinator
Norris Ortolano	....	assistant locations manager
Sandy Parker	....	script supervisor
Shannon Parker	....	basecamp production assistant
Victoria Payne	....	office production assistant
Stephen Roberts	....	financier: Capttal, LLC.
Ashley Romain	....	office production assistant
Thomas S. Rubin	....	legal services: Rowan & Rubin (as Thomas Rubin)
Jorge Santos	....	first assistant chef
Phil Seifert	....	location consultant
Giancarlo J. Sini	....	financial controller (as Giancarlo Sini)
Adam M. Stone	....	product placement coordinator (as Adam Stone)
Cat Stone	....	product placement coordinator (as Catherine Stone)
Toby Thiermann	....	epk producer
Eric W. Thompson	....	post-production
A.J. Timmcke	....	production coordinator
Douglas A. Torres	....	chef assistant
Sonia Torres	....	set production assistant
Alex Uceda	....	caterer: Alex in the Kitchen
Matt Warren	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances/Film Finances Louisiana
Kimberly Williams	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances/Film Finances Louisiana
Lisa Wolofsky	....	financier: Investment, Limited Partnership
Carol Wood	....	construction medic
Louis Zlotowicz	....	location scout
Tony Zudyk	....	client services: Laser Pacific
Howard Brodsky	....	assistant: Nicolas Chartier (uncredited)
Maria Cestone	....	financier (uncredited)
Derek Di Biagio	....	assistant: Matthew McConaughey (uncredited)
Robert Douthat	....	photo double/stand-in: Matthew McConaughey (uncredited)
Elena Duffy	....	stand-in: Juno Temple (uncredited)
Justin Groetsch	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Patrick Mizell	....	location scout (uncredited)
Valerie Ryan	....	location scout (uncredited)
Spencer Tracy	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Niraj Trivedi	....	office production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Joe Paganelli	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Voltage Pictures
• Picture Perfect (I)
• Worldview Entertainment
• ANA Media

Distributors

• Audio Visual Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Belga Films (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Bolero Film (2012) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2012) (Finland) (theatrical)
• LD Entertainment (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• PARLUX Entertainment (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Pyramide Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2012) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2012) (Greece) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Califórnia (2012) (Brazil) (all media)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Midget Entertainment (2012) (Denmark) (all media)
• Nu Metro Productions (2012) (South Africa) (all media)
• Top Films (2012) (Russia) (all media)
• VVS Films (2012) (Canada) (all media)
• Village Roadshow (2012) (Australia) (all media)
• WVG Medien GmbH (2012) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Post Services (visual effects services provided by)

Other Companies

• 360 Communication Rentals  walkies
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• Alex's in-the-Kitchen  catering provided by (as Alex in the Kitchen)
• Cajun Stunts  camera atv
• Cajun Stunts  camera quad
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Crescent Film Services Security  set security provided by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Ease Entertainment Services  payroll services provided by
• Eisner, Frank & Kahan  legal services provided by
• Event Restroom  restrooms
• Film Finances Louisiana  completion guaranty provided by
• Film Finances  completion guaranty provided by
• Film Production Capital  tax credit financing
• Fintage Cam  collection account management provided by
• High Bias Industries  music clearance by
• Hollywood Trucks  Entertainment Transportation
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• LaserPacific  digital intermediate services provided by (as Laser Pacific)
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Rowan & Rubin  legal services provided by
• Runway  post-production
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG)  special thanks (as Screen Actors Guild)
• Second Line Stages  sound stage provided by
• Silver Screen Supply  location equipment/rentals
• Silver Screen Supply  production services
• Stone Management  product placement
• Todd-AO Studios  audio services provided by
• Travel Central  travel agent services provided by

Also Known As:

"Killer Joe: A Twisted Redneck Trailer Park Murder Story" - USA (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong and disturbing violence, sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use and language (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

102 min (original version) | 98 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:NC-17 (certificate #47457) (rating surrendered) | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | Germany:Not Rated (SPIO/JK) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | France:12 (with warning) | USA:R (edited for re-rating) | Italy:VM14 | Brazil:18 | Norway:15 | USA:Unrated (uncut version) | Singapore:R21 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Company:

Voltage Pictures

Trivia:

In one scene Dottie asks if Joe is a detective like Magnum PI. Matthew McConaughey was in the running for playing Magnum PI in a big budget movie remake of the series in 2007, as of 2012 the project is dead in the water.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chris returns home after Digger's thugs beat him up, his teeth are perfectly white, yet in the close-up shot, they are all bloody and messed up.

Quotes:

[Joe just broke Sharla's nose and forced her to give fellatio to a chicken drumstick]
Ansel Smith:Sharla?
Sharla Smith:Yes.
Ansel Smith:Are you okay?
Sharla Smith:Yes, I'm fine Ansel.
Ansel Smith:Are you sure?
Sharla Smith:Yes I'm sure.
Ansel Smith:Okay.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Episode #8.264" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Are You Going Back There Tonight

Compensate for the knee jerk

Sometimes a performance in itself can boost a movies value and vault it into something spectacular, McConaughey provides the turbo to this otherwise solid but not groundbreaking vehicle of karmic retribution as Killer Joe. The movie itself has been said to be akin to Friedkin aping a Cohen crime caper and that description works. We have a crime masterminded by selfish, unintelligent and or quirky characters, we have the mid-west as our backdrop, and we have the metaphysical shadow of karma hovering over their every move throughout the film. Call it Cohen Brothers on whiskey. The characters themselves are all very stereotyped but I think Friedkin left that transparent enough. In other words, the stereotype was part of the wardrobe itself. The reason being is this is not about these characters in particular...this is about choices and consequences and Killer Joe is simply a vehicle of karmic arithmetic. All that aside, on any day, or in any movie, McConaughey's performance as Killer Joe is mesmerizing. He is the serpent...cold and dangerous but charming and in control, constantly. He weaves his restrained psychotic energy through the movie as if he was born to play this role. For as silly as this movie can be, this is a brutally adult movie. It is graphic and there is a barrel of bush in it. There is also an almost misogynistic undertone that I don't wish to defend one way or the other, but I will say that for the scenes to not play out as they did would be an injustice to the character that McConaughey plays. The cast all around is very solid. Thomas Haden Church is pretty terrific, Gershon is on point and I've never been happier to see her answer a door. Juno Temple is a lolita-ish young vixen who seems to be almost in a different plane of existence throughout the movie. This is a movie that will stick with you after it's over, the mark of a truly good movie. There's mechanics below the surface that have to be thought about and you have to discipline yourself for the eventual knee jerking that is bound to happen. Adults only. Would go well sandwiched between Blood Simple and No Country for Old Men.