A montage in Hit Man (2023) (dir. by Richard Linklater) has Glen Powell in ridiculous costumes pretending to be an assassin. A look I distinctly remember is his impersonation of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, with gritted teeth and slicked back hair. Indirectly, it feels like it was his audition to play Beckett Redfellow in How To Make A Killing.

How To Make A Killing has Powell play Beckett, a man at the end of death row about to be executed. He recounts the story of his life to a priest, recalling his mother’s dying wish, which was for her son to live the life he “deserves” after they were wrongfully cut out of their family fortune. Working as a salesman at a tailor and stumbling upon his incredibly wealthy childhood friend Julia (Margaret Qualley), Beckett begins to plan killing off his relatives to secure his inheritance.

Directed by John Patton Ford and produced by A24, it’s shocking that this movie has seemingly flown under the radar. It currently is certified Rotten on Rotten Tomatoes at 46% with an average score of 3.2 on Letterboxd; but I can say with certainty that I enjoyed the film. 

A slow start, it meanders in the beginning, but when Powell delivers the first kill, the movie begins to build momentum. It’s exciting to watch how he delivers each blow and whether or not he’ll get caught. A surprising supporting cast including Zach Woods and Topher Grace, effortlessly plays into the careless rich man trope; it’s shameless fun in the black comedy genre. 

Despite Beckett being an actual murderer, he’s easy to root for. He’s charming, hard-working, and embodies the rags-to-riches story as he gets more and more successful. It’s even easier to justify his crimes when you see the contrast to his relatives who lack the ability to recognise their privilege. Whether or not you like Glen Powell or even find him attractive, it’s clear that he has the wit and charisma to play a leading role.

Definitively more entertaining than The Running Man (Powell’s last film), but both lack a certain sense of style or voice. There isn’t necessarily anything in this film that seems entirely original, with shots and colouring lacking any intention. The only shots having vaguely anything interesting are the close-ups of Qualley’s legs.

I kept comparing it to films such as Ocean’s Eleven, where style and flavour seemed to be dripping out of the crimes they commit, something that lacks in How to Make a Killing. The movie is good, but the missing sense of glamour and high stakes that come with these type of movies stopped it from being even better.

Besides the murder, there’s also the love triangle between Beckett, Julia, and Ruth (Jessica Henwick), both representing an idealised version of two different classes. Do you choose a life promised of contentment, or do you follow where your greed takes you? Towards the start of the film, Beckett’s voiceover preaches to the audience that money does buy happiness; but despite being in the black comedy “Eat The Rich” genre, its message seems tacked on rather than particularly motivated.

Enjoyable, but mostly forgettable. It isn’t egregious, stylistic, or offensive. If anything, it’s harmless fun. You’ll like it if you like Glen Powell and you also get a nice five minutes of Ed Harris as a bonus.

Alyssa was fortunate enough to get invited to a screening of How To Make A Killing by NRC Agency.