'How to Make a Killing' Review
- Kyle Wolfe
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Release Date: 02/20/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Comedy. Drama. Thriller.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: A24.
The Verdict: A Must-See
There’s something immediately striking about How to Make a Killing, and it isn’t just the pairing of Glenn Powell and Margaret Qualley. The film carries itself with a slick assurance that feels more accessible than you might expect, while still retaining a slight indie bite that keeps it from feeling overly polished or formulaic. What’s perhaps most surprising is how cleanly the story unfolds. Even under the A24 banner, it favors clarity and momentum over structural detours, moving with purpose and rarely second-guessing itself.
That clarity of direction leaves plenty of room for the performances to breathe. Powell carries the weight of the story as Becket Redfellow with an ease that never feels strained or showy, grounding even the more heightened moments in something believable. Even as Becket’s decisions grow increasingly questionable, Powell’s charisma keeps the audience leaning in rather than pulling away. Qualley is excellent in her own right as Julia Steinway, bringing a sly, flirtatious edge that gradually reveals something far more determined and calculating beneath the surface. Jessica Henwick adds a grounded counterweight as Ruth, while Zach Woods brings a sharp comedic presence within the Redfellow family. Ed Harris lends a gravitas that adds a quiet but unmistakable weight to the family dynamic. Still, the film ultimately belongs to Powell. His presence gives the story its backbone, and his command of tone keeps the darker turns from slipping into something cartoonish.
The script, written and directed by John Patton Ford, walks a careful tonal line, blending dark comedy with genuine stakes in a way that feels deliberate rather than chaotic. The humor lands not because it’s outrageous, but because it’s observant and just a little cutting. The dialogue carries a sharp, natural rhythm, allowing even heightened moments to feel grounded rather than performative. Even when the film brushes against familiar themes of greed and ambition, it approaches them with enough personality to feel distinct instead of derivative. Most importantly, the comedy never undercuts the danger; if anything, it sharpens it. There are moments where the slick pacing and polished surface skim past deeper thematic territory, but that feels less like a flaw and more like a conscious choice. This is a movie that wants to entertain first and provoke second. The score reinforces that drive, propelling the momentum and giving the entire experience a restless, forward-moving energy.
Following his strong debut with Emily the Criminal, filmmaker John Patton Ford takes a confident step forward, leaning further into his strengths rather than pulling back. The ending toys with expectations just enough to make you question where it’s headed, but it ultimately delivers a payoff that feels inevitable instead of forced. It doesn’t strain for cleverness, and it never collapses under its own ambition. Confident, tightly constructed, and anchored by a commanding lead turn, How to Make a Killing executes its vision with precision, fully committing to the ruthless ambition at its core.
