FILM REVIEW
HOW TO MAKE A KILLING
Rated R
105 Minutes
Released February 20th
Its movie poster ad reads “$28 billion inheritance. 7 relatives standing in the way.” How to Make a Killing unfolds like a classic mystery story but from the inside out, as the perpetrator tells the tale from his jail cell. The reason to see this movie is not for the story, though, but more for the actors.
Glen Powell’s complex and impulsive “Becket Redfellow” carries tragedy on his shoulders without sensing it is there, and as usual, tragedy begets an undercurrent of black comedy, the kind that Powell handles so well as his below-the-radar smile lurks under every change of emotion.
The concept is that Becket is in line to inherit this substantial fortune, but he was raised by his recently deceased mom, who was the family outcast, and then, too, there are these pesky Redfellow family members higher in the line-up for the inheritance. So, you may already guess what Becket is scheming up.
The mansion that director John Patton Ford uses for the Redfellow estate seems to ooze with old money and has a foreboding aura as the backdrop for dramatic scenes. Production designer Christian Huband makes excellent use of its lavish but eerily cold rooms. Cinematographer Todd Banhazi’s camera dwells on faces and expressions with a fluid quality.
A multitude of eccentric characters keep popping up throughout the movie. Each stands out, even those with little screen time. It’s a very well-cast film, with some of my favorite actors making appearances, including Powell, Ed Harris, and Margaret Qualley. Jude Law’s son, Raff Law, plays “Taylor Redfellow,” the youngest family member standing in Becket’s way. The great character actor Bill Camp plays “Warren Redfellow,” and another stand-out is Jessica Henwick.
Still in the early stages of his career, director Ford wrote and directed the popular film Emily the Criminal (2022). After graduating from the University of South Carolina and getting his Master of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute, Ford wrote scripts and tried to sell them for years. Meanwhile, he worked odd jobs, including catering, trying to pay off his massive student debt. He put together four film projects that ended up falling through.
He didn’t give up. He was hired to direct commercials for Audi, Pepsi, Tide, and Toyota, and he did a music video, and finally, he found success with Emily the Criminal. That film was well-liked by critics, and Ford won an Independent Spirit Award for the screenplay. How to Make a Killing is his second feature as writer/director.
Powell was not an overnight success either. He grew up in Austin, TX, and worked at one time as a nanny. He booked a small role opposite Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters and was persuaded to move to LA by Washington’s agent Ed Limato. Powell began to be cast on guest roles on television and small roles in major films. In 2022, he played “Hangman” in Top Gun: Maverick opposite Tom Cruise.
Then, in 2023, he starred in the dark comedy Hit Man and in the sleeper hit Anyone but You with Sydney Sweeney. In 2024, he starred in Twisters. Now Powell is the creator, producer, and star of the TV comedy series Chad Powers. He is an example of an actor who takes a “big picture” approach to the business, as a strategist in addition to being an artist.
In this movie, you get to watch one of the most fascinating actresses working today, Margaret Qualley. She masters a mesmerizing quality without seeming to try. Born in Kalispell, MT, the daughter of actress/model/producer/writer Andie McDowell, Qualley has that ephemeral ability to exude sexuality and mischievous magnetism even in scenes where those are not the primary driving force. Some say it’s her legs, but it’s really her eyes and the way she moves.
She speaks with her expressions and body language first before a word comes out of her mouth. Her talent is not something she was simply born with – Qualley has trained as a comedian, contortionist, impressionist, juggler, martial artist, mime, motorcyclist, pilot, precision driver, singer, and ventriloquist, and she is skilled in several sports. In 2023, she turned in an extraordinary performance in the two-character film, Sanctuary, opposite Christopher Abbott, that should be mandatory viewing for aspiring actors.
How to Make a Killing is a fun, twisted morality tale told with a wink and a wry smile, and a lot of unsaid commentary about people and their motives for pursuing that which they believe they should rightfully possess.
Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com
