Film Review: HOW TO MAKE A KILLING (2026): Glen Powell Stars in This Intriguing Dark Comedy That Ends Up Being a Bit Shallow
How to Make a Killing Review
How to Make a Killing (2026) Film Review, a movie written and directed by John Patton Ford and starring Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Adrian Lukis, Nell Williams, Sean C. Michael, Topher Grace, Ed Harris, Grady Wilson, Maggie Toomey, Emily Bruce, Natasha Mayet, Zach Woods and Bill Camp.
Filmmaker John Patton Ford’s absurdly entertaining, How to Make a Killing, tells the story of a man named Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) who is telling a priest (Adrian Lukis) how he ended up on death row, waiting to be executed. This film is essentially about a man who was told by his mom to never strive for less than what he deserves, but under Ford’s direction, it’s almost impossible to believe Becket is as successful as he is in the movie and that he needs to kill people in order to score a large inheritance. Ford’s story line would have been more plausible if Becket had more realistic problems than living up to a simple promise he made to his mom. Still, Powell is one of our most charismatic actors and almost lands the movie successfully thanks to his charm.
Also featured in the movie is the magnetic Margaret Qualley (The Substance) as a woman named Julia who should have been the love of Becket’s life, but ends up being much more on her game than Becket is as a character. Qualley sometimes upstages our lead character, Becket, through Julia’s choices and manipulative tricks that she plays over the course of the film. Qualley has some really fun scenes here opposite Powell and it’s a shame she doesn’t get a bit more screen time than she actually gets here to chew scenery.
Becket goes around for the majority of the movie trying to kill distant cousins/family members to score a large inheritance. One of the most memorable of these unfortunate people is Topher Grace’s Steven Redfellow who thinks that Becket is a reporter with The Post and doing an interview with him as Becket slips something into his drink that will help him die without anyone paying it all too much mind. Grace shines in a turn that lasts barely several minutes. Another character flies a plane and ends up crashing due to poison Becket puts in his coffee and so on and so forth.
Tossed into the mix is another love interest for Becket named Ruth (Jessica Henwick) who Becket invites over his house for dinner until he finds Julia breaking and entering into his apartment (well, she has a key, but still). Henwick and Powell struggle to find a believable bond on-screen as Becket is reminded he doesn’t have to be rich to win Ruth’s affections time and time again. Ruth says she admired him when he rode the bus. Henwick has a winning personality even though their chemistry is as flat as can be here.
Ed Harris is a distinguished performer and has a powerfully rendered death scene for his character to endure in the new picture. Harris plays Whitelaw Redfellow who almost single-handedly ruined Becket and his mom’s lives by making really hard decisions. Harris, too, doesn’t last long in the picture, but seeing an old pro like this working again is reason enough to rejoice in this film’s excellent supporting casting decisions.
However, Powell is stuck in a rut at times. At some point, the audience realizes that Becket may not be fried for the murders he committed, but the viewer will keep watching to see what tricks the film may or may not have in store by the time the film reaches its intriguing conclusion. Soundtrack choices are on-point here with catchy old tunes showcased early on and sprinkled sporadically throughout the picture.
In the end, How to Make a Killing can only help Powell’s career go further into the realm of success. That’s because Powell doesn’t shy away from confidence and enthusiasm when playing his role this time out. With Qualley cast beside him, expectations may be higher than the ultimate quality of the scenes of the new film actually delivered. That being said, surprising star turns like Topher Grace’s role and Ed Harris’ part keep the movie feeling fresh even when it doesn’t make us believe that anything the lead character does in the movie actually needs to be done for any other reason than to have a movie plot.
Becket is a successful man with or without the murders although the movie throws a few curve balls to the audience here and there for good measure. Becket could pretty much have any woman he wanted and fake any successful career for himself if he tried hard enough. How to Make a Killing is about the American desire to be rich (financially, speaking) and the levels that some people will stoop to not have to worry about money ever again and to make their lives as “rich” as they deserve to be (not in the monetary sense as well). Some people may desire to score that inheritance they so rightfully deserve, but making a movie about someone like that may seem a tad bit shallow. In any event, How to Make a Killing won’t make any true enemies with its easy on the eyes cast and thought-provoking situations.
Rating: 6.5/10
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