Becket Redfellow, disowned at birth by his wealthy family, sets out to eliminate his relatives and reclaim his rightful inheritance. The premise of How to Make a Killing itself is pretty outrageous and incredibly absurd, but the movie leans into it with confidence, resulting in a dark comedy that balances sharp satire with plenty of humor.
The movie’s biggest strength is easily Glen Powell. He is effortlessly likable, even as Beckett’s body count rises. Despite his amoral mission, it’s difficult not to root for him, even when things begin to spiral out of control. It helps that the movie doesn’t exactly endear you to any of his relatives, but perhaps his uncle, and very few of them have enough screentime to make you really care about their demise, anyway. The kills themselves are, dare I say… fun? Inventive, at least.
The supporting cast, including Margaret Qualley as Beckett’s clever and cunning childhood crush, Julia, and Jessica Henwick as the kinder Ruth, brings depth and personality to Beckett’s wild world. Still, it sometimes feels like the movie doesn’t give them enough to do, which is a shame.
How to Make a Killing isn’t really a nonstop thriller. The movie’s tone changes so much that it’s hard to tell what it wants to be. Is it a satire, a romance, or a murder mystery? It’s hard to say, but the unevenness makes it weirdly unpredictable in a way that works more often than not.
The movie embraces the story’s darker themes, such as wealth, entitlement, and legacy, but never lets things get too heavy. There is plenty of humor and irony sprinkled amongst all of the killing, which makes the movie pretty fun to watch.
In the end, this isn’t just a movie about murder. It’s a sharp look at morality, ambition, and just how far someone might go to claim what they think they deserve, even if they haven’t exactly earned it. How to Make a Killing may not add much to the genre, but I found it entertaining enough to make the ride worthwhile.
