How To Make A Killing Review
- Janelle
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
How To Make a Killing made the cardinal sin when it comes to A24 Studio Films...it forgot to be weird.
How To Make a Killing is an A24 dark comedy that broke the golden A24 rule…it forgot to get weird.
I think if Glen Powell has a devoted audience, they’ll find a way to see this under-promoted movie.
This movie didn’t work, and, unfortunately, after The Running Man, Glen Powell is 0-2 in his leading-man gig. He’s proven to work great in tandem: Hit Man, Twisters, Top Gun: Maverick. However, he’s now choosing roles that highlight his lack of range.
HTMAK centers on a family worth billions of dollars and an unlikely heir. Powell plays the “bastard” son of a billionaire’s disowned daughter, who discovers that he could inherit the entire fortune. Unfortunately, he’s waaaaay down the line, and about 7 people would have to die before he would inherit anything. Throw in a little Margaret Qualley, who plays a childhood friend of Powell, and he realizes the killings are the easiest part of his plan. Sounds like a fun premise for an A24 wild ride, eh?
What works? The premise is fun, albeit dark. An unserious look at wiping out obnoxious, entitled rich family members in different innovative ways is both a plus and a minus (we’ll get to that in a bit). And although Powell’s character is meh, the family members played by Topher Grace, Bill Camp, and Zach Woods are a delight in their too-brief roles. The dialogue and the chemistry among the cast are almost good enough to overlook its flaws. Almost.
What doesn’t work? These dark movies aren’t Powell’s forte. He does two things really great: charisma and cocky. Once you move out of those spheres, he doesn’t seem natural. The Running Man highlighted his lack of playing a tough guy, and HTMAK just doesn’t let him get A24 weird. Either the script or he is at fault. It should’ve gone off the rails. The deaths should’ve been wild. The ending should’ve been a mix between horror and comedy, but it failed to commit to fully. It’s like watching a movie with its foot on the gas that’s too afraid to floor it.
Because A24 puts out about 18-20 movies a year, not every film will be a rousing success. But they do have a reputation for being out-of-pocket, weird, or visceral in their realism. No, Death of a Unicorn wasn’t a great film, but it was strange. Love Lies Bleeding wasn’t for everyone, but you can’t deny that it pushed the limits. Civil War and Warfare made you grip your seat with their intense moments. A24 has a THING. Yet this movie had little of the magic you come to expect from them.
This movie might work well on streaming, but don’t blame yourself if you forget it once you click it off. 2.75/5