20 Underrated Movies You Have To See
11. Killer Joe
Killer Joe is a 2011 psychological thriller from The Exorcist director himself, William Friedkin, with a screenplay from Tracy Letts and a career best performance from Matthew McConaughey that ranks alongside Dallas Buyer's Club and True Detective.
McConaughey plays "Killer" Joe Cooper, a crooked cop who moonlights as a hit man. His latest out of hours job sees him agree to killing the horrid mother of drug dealer Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch). Whilst he agrees, he also demands a night with Chris' sister, Dottie (Juno Temple).
What follows is a work of twisted and horrifying genius, as Joe falls in love with Dottie and carries out the hit despite Chris trying to call it off. The second half of the movie is incredibly graphic and disturbing, as Joe shows just how cruel and dangerous he can be, but nonetheless constantly exciting and wonderfully performed.
McConaughey owns this entire film with a role designed to disturb and terrify, and the end is both ambiguous and wonderfully bizarre. The film is rated NC-17, mind, so watch with discretion.