A cop who moonlights as a hit man agrees to kill the hated mother of a desperate drug dealer in exchange for a tumble with the young man's virginal sister.
Acting
McConaughey's career pivot from rom-com king to terrifying predator.
Direction
Friedkin's 76-year-old chaos energy—zero punches pulled.
Writing
Tracy Letts' stage play adaptation—every line drips with venom.
Director
William Friedkin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The MPAA initially gave it an NC-17 for 'graphic aberrant content'—Friedkin refused to cut the chicken scene, releasing it unrated instead.
This film completed McConaughey's 'McConaissance'—his 2011-2014 run of prestige roles that killed the 'alright alright alright' rom-com persona forever.
US
