Director
John Patton Ford
(EMILY THE CRIMINAL)

Starring
Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris

Darkly funny, stylish, and just a little bit twisted, How to Make a Killing is the kind of crime comedy that thrives on moral chaos and razor-sharp timing. The film takes a familiar trope of ordinary people stumbling into extraordinary criminal circumstances and spins it into a film that thrives on a deliciously immoral premise.

Directed by John Patton Ford, the story revolves around Becket Redfellow, played by Glen Powell, a man determined to reclaim the vast family fortune he was denied at birth, even if it means murdering the wealthy relatives standing between him and the inheritance. From the opening scenes, the film sets a mischievous tone. Powell’s Becket narrates his own rise from outsider to calculating killer, and the film relishes the absurdity of a man methodically eliminating members of his billionaire dynasty. The setup is irresistibly dark; seven relatives must die before Becket can claim the fortune. It’s a premise that echoes the classic British black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, which the film loosely draws inspiration from.

Powell brings undeniable charm to the role, leaning into the character’s mix of ambition, resentment, and gallows humour. His natural charisma keeps the audience on Becket’s side longer than we probably should be, which adds a fun moral tension to the story. Supporting players, including Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, and Topher Grace, add intrigue, particularly Qualley as a manipulative femme fatale whose motives remain just ambiguous enough to keep the story twisting

Visually, the film is sleek and confidently made. Ford stages the murders with a mixture of irony and tension, leaning into the satirical edge of a story about wealth, entitlement, and revenge. At its best, the movie plays like a modern “eat-the-rich” thriller with a wicked sense of humour. However, the film occasionally struggles to balance its tones. The satire sometimes feels underdeveloped, and the narrative becomes increasingly convoluted as Becket’s plan unfolds. What begins as a clever dark comedy gradually turns into a more straightforward thriller, losing some of the biting wit that the premise promises.

Still, How to Make a Killing remains an entertaining ride. Its brisk runtime, twisted sense of humour and playful cynicism make it an enjoyable if not slightly messy entry in the modern black-comedy thriller genre. It may not land every punchline or plot twist, but it’s the kind of wickedly mischievous movie that’s hard not to enjoy.

HOW TO MAKE A KILLING is in cinemas now.