‘Killer Joe’: Matthew McConaughey And Director Voice Opinions On Violent Movies And Aurora Tragedy

Killer Joe star Matthew McConaughey and Director William Friedkin talk about the Aurora tragedy and whether violent films played a part in it’s occurence.

While at a Cinema Society screening of the movie Killer Joe on Monday in New York, McConaughey talks to The Hollywood Reporter about his view on the subject.

“Well, it’s a lot longer answer than I can give you now, but I will just say that is, one thing that we shouldn’t be saying in society when something like that happens anymore, we shouldn’t be saying “unbelievable”. It happens, and we don’t know the answer to it right now, but there’s definitely, people now more than ever, people can make a very murky line between reality and illusion.” McConaughey continues saying, “They can make a very murky line between the games that are played and civilization, without any thought of consequences at times, and so, that’s a murky line and a dangerous line that we should consider somehow.”

Director William Friedkin also believes that violent movies had nothing to do with the tragedy at Aurora. He tells The Hollywood Reporter this,

“That’s an isolated act by a madman. They asked him what his favorite movies were. You know what he answered? StarWars and Dumb and Dumber. Now which one of those do you think caused him to go out with an automatic weapon and off a bunch of people? This guy was into Star Wars and Dumb and Dumber.”

In fact, Friedkin doesn’t even believe Holmes’ insane mutterings to the police, he just believes that was just a cop-out.

“He was not insane. He premeditated that. He bought 6000 rounds of ammunition, he was eligible to buy guns and ammo, he set it up, he booby-trapped his room; there’s no insanity, other than to say anyone that kills someone in cold blood is insane at the moment. He should go to the gas chamber. This was premeditated. This wasn’t the work of an insane guy. And what he’s doing now, I believe, is feigning insanity, because I don’t think he wants to meet his maker at this point in his life.”

In my opinion, when it comes to acts of violence , violent movies are not the cause…it’s the violent minds and twisted motives that result in these horrible tragedies.

Here is a trailer of Killer Joe for your viewing pleasure.