Krampus

Krampus teases towards the naughty and nice list but fails by never committing to either list.

2/4

The Kings of Summer

Like the lead characters, The Kings of Summer has such an indestructable spirit that you can't help but like the movie even when at times you feel like you're going in as many circles as the leads do. Part of The Kings of Summer's aforementioned spirit can be attributed to the 3 lead males; Nick Robinson (Joe), Gabriel Basso (Patrick), and Moises Arias (Biaggio). All three have an undeniable chemistry and relatability you don't feel like you're watching acting. Megan Mullally & Marc Evan Jackson also shine as as Mr. & Mrs. Keenan, Patrick's overprotective parents that mean well despite not doing anything well.

The Kings of Summer can actually be quite hillarious. Though Patrick & Joe's overbearing relatives provide humor, the three boys' relationship and interactions with each other are quite charming as well, most notably how they deal with Biaggio, a boy they invited just because "they were afraid to tell him no".

The Kings of Summer draws the audience in with an ever so common desire to live on one's own, without rules, society, curfews, or pre-cooked food (for the most part). It keeps your interest by never overdoing the material, the situation or how the boys react to the conflicts they run into. This believability helps keep your attention when at times you feel like The Kings of Summer starts to sink into the mud. At times The Kings of Summer does feel a bit repetitive especially with Biaggio's bizzare tics and sayings, they're entertaining at first but begin to wear thin after a while. And there does feel like a bit of dragging from one major event to another towards the end when you can feel the time ticking down.

Still despite its' flaws, The Kings of Summer manages to produce the goods thanks to the charm and wit of living on your own when you're not even sure how to live with others.

3/4

Killer Joe

When you're strapped for cash and in desperate need for quick money, what's the simple solution to this problem? If your solution is hiring a hitman/cop to kill your mother for her $50,000 that she's worth, then you're in a similar boat as the premise of Killer Joe, the latest entry from the director of The Exorcist and Bug, both highly suspenseful and unforgettable thrillers.

Killer Joe stars Emile Hirsch as Chris, a local broke-ass who needs quick money in order to avoid the wrath of the local loan sharks. He finds a solution with Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey) whose a cop and also ironically enough, a killer for pay. Chris's mother is worth $50,000 dollars which is just enough to get Chris out of hot water and also be split amongst Chris's father and new wife. So if the murder is successful, everyone gets bank. There is obviously complications, mainly involving Killer Joe's extreme interest in Chris's younger sister Dottie (Juno Temple), who happens to be a few screws loose.

Killer Joe's biggest strength lies in the performances. Emile Hirsch holds his own as the lead and Thomas Hayden Church manages to deliver some comic relief as his clueless father as well. But the entire show is stolen by McConaughey as Killer Joe. Every scene is dominated by his prescence, and every noteworthy scene is one involving him. This could have been quite the hammy and OTT portrayal in the wrong actor's hands, but McConaughey actually manages to keep his delivery quite subtle. He's chilling and menacing without even really having to try.

Killer Joe, unfortunately, does have some enormous problems though. The biggest one is the definitely the tone. It's obvious that the director was shooting for a quite dark, punishing, and grim tone but the execution is problematic. There seems to be a general opinion about being mean and how it's acceptable if it's enjoyable for those viewing it. And that's the problem with Killer Joe, it's nasty and demented, without being any fun. People are beaten to a pulp, killed, and in one especially nasty scene, forced to suck on chicken, but it just feels punishing to watch. It's kind of hard to tell if the director wanted the material to be funny or scary, but a lot of the time, with the exception of the humor provided by Church and the thrills by McConaughey, it just feels like it belongs in neither category. Watching people get the shit knocked out of them isn't really scary or funny. It's just punishing.

Editing is also something I feel Killer Joe could have used a bit more of. The first half of the movie is terribly slow, you keep waiting for something to happen that just won't come. It's build up for something that has potential to be stellar but just isn't. Kind of like a roller coaster with a giant hill that just keeps winding and winding and winding up. It could have used a bit more excitement in the first half because the last half just feels rushed as a result. Add on a completely puzzling ending that will leave more questions then answers, and you have a movie that feels deadly dull when you look back.

1/4