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How to Make a Killing is an A24 comedy crime film directed and written by John Patton Ford. It was released on February 20th and features a main cast of Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, and Jessica Henwick.
The film follows Beckett Redfellow (Glen Powell), raised by his single mother after she was disowned by her wealthy family. Despite this, Beckett is determined to receive his inheritance and is willing to go through every family member to get it.
I was looking forward to seeing this film, as A24 has produced some of my favourite watches, and I’m also a big fan of Qualley’s work. While it was entertaining, I wish I could say it lived up to my expectations.
The film features a stacked ensemble cast, including Topher Grace, Zach Woods, Bill Camp, and more. It was fun to see Beckett meet his estranged family members, each somehow more obnoxious than the last.
One aspect I really enjoyed was Julia, played by Margaret Qualley. Based on the trailers and promotional content, I did not expect the turn her character took. It was a fortunate surprise, as I was expecting a typical love interest whose only job was to support the lead. Qualley was a standout for me in terms of performance, and I looked forward to every moment she was on screen.
The premise of killing off your family members until you’re the only one left to collect the inheritance is one that piqued my interest. I think at the beginning of the film, things were flowing well, but further in, it felt like the plot was becoming more complicated than necessary. It’s as if they were on the right trajectory, but unfortunately just missed the mark.
The film's flaws aside, it had its entertaining moments. Powell favours the action genre, which makes sense because he seems to thrive in it. Although, it would be nice to see him branch out, as his role in the romantic comedy Set it Up is one of my favourites of his.
How to Make a Killing is a light, entertaining film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. At the end of the day, I would still recommend it as a fun film to watch with some friends.
How to Make a Killing is currently playing in theatres.
