“Killer Joe”

When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to dispatch his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Chris finds Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a creepy, crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer. When Chris can’t pay Joe upfront, Joe sets his sight on Dottie as collateral for the job. The contract killer and his hostage develop an unusual bond.

The buzz: Violent, darkly comic, and full of strong performances, Killer Joe proves William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) hasn’t lost his touch. But the lurid plot isn’t for everyone.

Length: 103 mins.

Showtimes: 7 and 9:10 p.m. Friday; 4:30, 7, and 9:10 p.m. Saturday; 4:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Maiden Alley Cinema.