Woody Harrelson. Norman Reedus. Aaron Paul. Dirty cops, strippers, beheadings, and gang wars. What’s not to love?
Having already directed and adaptation of one of Cormac McCarthy’s most disturbing novels in The Road, a Prohibition-era crime drama in Lawless, and a highly-praised neo-western in The Proposition, it would be no hyperbole to declare John Hillcoat a director with a bright, bright future.
I mean that in the metaphorical sense of course, because this man is anything but a stranger to dark subject material.
After getting his start in the music industry with the 1985 documentary, INXS: Swing and Other Stories, Hillcoat rose to prominence as a music video director for such acts as Depeche Mode, Muse, and Johnny Cash, helming his own independently financed projects on the side all the while. With both of his stateside features being financial successes that currently hold a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was only a matter of time before Hillcoat was recognized for his talents on a broader scale, and with the star-studded Triple 9, it looks like he’s finally about to be.
If a look over the cast list — which includes Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, Norman Reedus, Aaron Paul, Anthony Mackie, Teresa Palmer, Michael Pena and Gal Gadot — isn’t enough to entice you to this heist thriller, perhaps the redband trailer released earlier today will. Between the beheaded corpses, bags of teeth, and the creepiest version of “This Little Piggy” you will ever hear, Hillcoat manages to pack more gritty cop drama into two minutes than True Detective could in its entire second season. And did I mention that cast? Woody Harrelson! Norman Reedus!! JESSE PINKMAN!!! You guys, Jesse Pinkman. I need to sit down.
Check out the NSFW trailer above. Triple 9 hit theaters February 16, 2016. Your jaws hit the floor shortly thereafter.
