Sunday, October 28, 2012

Killer Joe (William Friedkin, 2011)

"The audiences have changed. They are conditioned by television and television is aimed at the lowest common denominator."
— William Friedkin


Killer Joe
is a movie haunted by television sets, right from the opening scene, where a television is on in the middle of the night, for no apparent reason, eerily showing static noise, while everyone's asleep.

TV noise fuzz

Empty living room


When Ansel arrives in the living room, after having been woken up by Chris, the first thing he does is change the channel, and we're treated to a curious bit of foreshadowing, as the television shows us the scene we're missing at the end of the film.

Thomas Haden Church picking up the remote

Emile Hirsch and Thomas Haden Church in Killer Joe

Gun shot on TV


But for the most part, TVs in Killer Joe exist as a perpetual source of distraction and annoyance, and Friedkin makes a ritual of people turning them off. It starts with Joe turning off a TV upon arriving at the Smiths' trailer for the first time, because the TV is too loud, and Dottie can't hear him otherwise.

Matthew McConaughey and Juno Temple in Killer Joe

Joe turning off the TV


Joe has to turn off the same TV, again, after Ansel forgets to do so before leaving the room.

Monster trucks on TV, Thomas Hayden Church leaving the room



Matthew McConaughey picking up a remote

Matthew McConaughey turning off the TV


Later on, it's Chris' turn to get irritated with a TV.

Emile Hirsch in Killer Joe

Cartoon on TV in Killer Joe

Emile Hirsch turns off the TV


And finally, because the damn thing just doesn't seem to go away, and effectively setting the tone for the final scene of the film, Joe deals with it in a more... definitive manner.

Thomas Hayden Church in Killer Joe

Thomas Hayden Church looking at the TV

Matthew McConaughey looking at Thomas Hayden Church

Matthew McConaughey looking at the TV

Matthew McConaughey gets pissed off

Matthew McConaughey leaves the table

Matthew McConaughey walks towards the TV



Matthew McConaughey picks up the TV

Matthew McConaughey lifts the TV

Matthew McConaughey smashes the TV

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