top of page

How to Make a Killing

Mar 3
2 min read

Updated: Aug 11

How to Make a Killing is a great film but, perhaps, could have been an even better mini-series.


Although, considering how TV is probably the more likely route these days for studios to go down, perhaps we should celebrate this very likable and slick, quasi-remake of Kind Hearts and Coronets coming to the big screen.


Slick is probably the optimum word here as this is a high class, tightly-made, kind-of-thriller.


It doesn’t really fall into conventional genre categorisation. Glen Powell’s orphaned and disowned Becket, heir to a huge family fortune, looks to bump off the seven people standing in his way of that inheritance.


So it’s an eat-the-rich satire, a sort of ‘fictional biopic’ type story as Becket *slight spoiler* recounts his story from his jail cell, a sort of black comedy with a political ‘rich people are bad’ moral and, as aforementioned, a sort of thriller as the plan unfolds.


Above all, it’s highly enjoyable. Different and original in all the right ways whilst being blockbuster-like digestible.


There’s a whiff of American Psycho to the piece without quite going quite as dark.


It’s funny, its messaging is on point and stamped on you in all the right ways and it surprises and thrills along the way.


Perhaps it could have been stretched out to TV show length. The family members are all interesting in their own way and, naturally, are given short shrift and there are a few moments where it feels like scenes have been cut out.


That, in itself, is to its credit and feeling like you’re left wanting more is not a bad thing on this occasion.


Another showcase for Powell and a brilliantly stylish delight.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
The Social Reckoning

I guess there’s a degree of irony in posting a positive review of The Social Reckoning onto social media and praising its pointed messaging. The ‘investigative journalism thriller’ is always a winner

 
 
 
Digger

Alejandro González Iñárritu is certainly not afraid of a big swing. Whilst it’s fair to say that Digger doesn’t get close to the heights of Birdman or The Revenant, its critical panning feels unusual,

 
 
 
Hope (2026)

You won’t have seen a film with as many contrasts as Na Hong-jin’s Hope. At once impeccably crafted and beautiful, but also batshit crazy and prone to toilet humour interludes. At times you can feel w

 
 
 

Comments


 

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

 

© Copyright 2015 by Daniel Oldfield. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page