Glen Powell Is Completely Solid In This Sharp Satire

There was once one thing known as the “American dream,” a super standing of prosperity and luxury that each citizen of america aspired to. The issue is that, as soon as upon a time, the American dream felt considerably achievable. It was once doable for gainfully employed folks to afford a small or modestly-sized residence, a automotive or two, leftover funds for leisure and hobbies, and so forth. In 2026, of us within the millennial technology and beneath should face the tough actuality that they might not be capable to get hold of any of these items throughout their lifetime. Nevertheless, the American dream nonetheless continues to burn brightly, solely now it would not beckon with the promise of reward for exhausting work. As an alternative, it seduces with the promise of outrageous reward for selfishness and self-importance. Whether or not by way of social media notoriety or climbing aboard the shoulders of your rich ancestors, the brand new American dream calls for getting forward in any respect prices.

It is this theme which author/director John Patton Ford is taking sharp purpose at in his satire “How one can Make a Killing.” To do it, Ford has made the ingenious option to make use of the most effective black comedies ever made, 1949’s “Sort Hearts and Coronets,” an adaptation of the novel “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Felony” by Roy Horniman. The supply novel and ’49 movie had been set in and across the Edwardian period of English historical past, and instructed the story of a person working his approach by way of the category system through murdering his relations. “How one can Make a Killing” transposes the most important beats of the story to modern-day New York Metropolis, and in doing so, makes a unbelievable remark in regards to the realities of the wealth disparity and the category system we’re speculated to not have within the US.

“How one can Make a Killing” stars Glen Powell as Becket Redfellow, a younger man whose mom, Mary (Nell Williams), was one of many heirs to her Lengthy Island household’s fortune till her falling in love with a musician and having Becket led to her being disowned by the ruthless matriarch of the Redfellow household, Whitelaw (Ed Harris). After Mary raises Becket in excessive society vogue (albeit in suburban New Jersey) after which dies from an sickness (which her wealthy household doesn’t raise a finger to assist with), Becket vows revenge. He ultimately seizes a possibility when an outdated crush from his faculty days, Julia (Margaret Qualley), offhandedly offers him the concept he may inherit the household fortune if he ensured that the remainder of his relations had been got rid of. Thus begins Becket’s profession as a secret, extremely motivated serial killer with a selected hit record, all whereas he rises by way of the ranks of the Redfellow household’s funding agency because of nepotism.

The unique “Sort Hearts and Coronets” made a present out of Alec Guinness taking part in many of the snooty homicide victims, one thing which Ford would not try to emulate. As an alternative, he is stacked his movie with a wonderful ensemble of actors. Along with the aforementioned names, there’s additionally Jessica Henwick as Becket’s faculty instructor love curiosity, Invoice Camp as Becket’s kindly uncle, and Zach Woods, Topher Grace, Bianca Amato, Raff Legislation, and Sean Cameron Michael as his different Redfellow relations. As wonderful as their contributions are, there isn’t any query that the movie belongs to Powell, and rightfully so. The actor has a knack for enjoying cocky fairly boys in addition to males with a chip on their shoulder, and Becket is each. Powell understands he is key to the movie’s tone and satire, and performs it good.

If there’s one vital factor to remember with “How one can Make a Killing,” it is to handle expectations for its comedic components. “Sort Hearts and Coronets” is a masterpiece of dry British comedy, so it would be affordable to anticipate an American remake to comply with alongside the traces of one thing like “Succession.” But John Patton Ford appears to mitigate the comedic potential of the movie, selecting as an alternative to lean into a extra Kubrickian type of satire, one which is not depending on quips and gags. One of many film’s strengths is its selection, exemplified by its actors and their characters. But whereas of us like Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris are taking part in their roles with movie noir gravitas (nevertheless arch), folks like Zach Woods and Topher Grace are going extra for caricature. All of it works, however it does make issues just like the latter two actors really feel a bit misplaced, greater than they’d if the movie was absolutely a comedy.

This method extends to the murders depicted within the film as effectively. On this space, the movie hews nearer to “Sort Hearts,” permitting the murders to be extra refined, incidental, and wry as an alternative of brutal or gritty. Whereas this could attraction to fellow lovers of sunshine comedy, it’d really feel like a let right down to these hoping for a bit extra chunk to their satire. Ford is not going for the uncompromising discomfort of somebody like Bong Joon-ho in “Parasite,” nor the style maximalism of “Prepared or Not,” to call two latest “kill the wealthy” movies. The closest Ford involves both is letting Glen Powell lean into a Patrick Bateman “American Psycho” aesthetic, which is just there for the inference and its connections, to not promise a massacre.

Though “How one can Make a Killing” would not fairly stay as much as its comedic potential, it nonetheless retains a whole lot of energy as a satire. John Patton Ford’s first movie, 2022’s “Emily the Felony,” tackled the crime and criminality by way of a right down to Earth, no-nonsense lens, and whereas “Killing” is a bit more fanciful by nature, it additionally treats Becket’s world as realistically as doable. It is the cinematic equal of taking part in issues near the vest, one thing which Glen Powell’s efficiency (together with his narration; the movie is instructed largely in flashback) nails completely. Powell’s Becket recollects related upwardly cell antiheroes like Saul Goodman or Michael Corleone, characters who appear to be dwelling a want success of righteousness, solely to search out themselves trapped by the persona they’ve constructed up.

It is this side which Ford addresses most subtly, finally making “How one can Make a Killing” a cleverly scathing indictment of the American dream because it stands. It is also an impressively multi-layered indictment, too, for whereas it would be simple (and reasonably standard) for Ford to level out how the haves and the have-nots aren’t all that completely different from one another in the event that they had been capable of change locations, the filmmaker as an alternative leans into the complexity and systemic points surrounding wealth and success. “How one can Make a Killing” is a film that sneaks up on you, and like Becket himself, would not merely stab you within the chest or punch you within the intestine. As an alternative, it slowly poisons you, leaving you bewildered by the top as to how sick you and the nation you reside in has develop into.

/Movie Ranking: 7 out of 10

“How one can Make a Killing” opens in theaters on February 20, 2026.