Videos by ComicBook.com
In an interview with ComicBook to promote How to Make a Killing (which opens in theaters on February 20th), Powell explained how Becket differs from other big-screen sociopaths. “I think what John has done a really cool job of in this film is that it’s it’s fun,” he said. “It’s buoyant … we all know that murder is bad, but I think what’s really fun about this guy is he really makes you forget about what he’s doing … It’s like a great thriller where the temperature on the pot is being cranked up at such a slow degree that you don’t even realize where you are until you get to the end of the movie in a really fun way. There’s a delicate nature of how John is kind of pulling off that magic trick. And I just think he’s just getting what he deserves.”
How to Make a Killing Needed to Land the Perfect Tone
Powell is right in saying there’s a “delicate nature” at the heart of How to Make a Killing. As teased in the film’s trailer, Becket embarks on a personal mission to kill his relatives so he can be the sole heir of the $28 billion estate. It’s also established in the trailer that Beckett’s mother was disowned by the family, so there’s a sense that they were wronged out of their share of the money, but this kind of premise still requires a tricky balance to hook the audience in. If Becket skews too close to the “murderous psychopath” side of the spectrum, How to Make a Killing would risk being an off-putting experience. Obviously, there’s a plethora of films that follow morally dubious criminal figures, but killing family members could be a step too far for some — even if the relatives are “rich pricks.”
Tone is an important aspect of any film, and even more so for something like How to Make a Killing. Making it a fun experience that leans into the dark comedy of the situation feels like the right approach, as opposed to taking things in a more serious or somber direction. By embracing the ridiculousness of what Becket is doing, How to Make a Killing becomes more palatable for the audience. Yes, we’re watching him kill off his family members one by one, but it’s presented in a winking, cheeky manner that it’s easier to just sit back and get immersed in the madness on screen. If How to Make a Killing wasn’t as heightened, then the protagonist’s actions wouldn’t sit well with viewers.
