Richard Linklater’s latest film, Killerhas officially landed on Netflix, attracting audiences with its unique blend of romance and action comedy. Starring 35-year-old Glen Powell, the film delves into the interesting story of psychology professor Gary Johnson who is caught in a web of crime and deception.
Gary Johnson’s Unique Role
Glen Powell stars as Gary Johnson, a college professor who moonlights as a fake hit man. Johnson’s unusual journey begins when he discovers he has a knack for dramatically impersonating criminals with funny costumes, accents, and mannerisms. This hidden talent leads him undercover with the local police, where he impersonates criminals. The plot thickens when he meets Madison (played by Adria Arjona), a potential client who wants him to kill her husband. However, she ends up stealing his heart, setting off a chain of deception and confusion of identities.
Real-life inspiration
Yes, Killer Killer on Netflix is based on the true story of Gary Johnson, who posed as a hitman for the Houston police in the late 1980s and 1990s. Linklater discovered Johnson’s fascinating story after publishing an article written by Skip Hollandsworth in Texas Monthly in 2001. Johnson’s story had been considered for an adaptation before, but it wasn’t until Linklater teamed up with Powell that the film found its narrative direction.
Creative freedom
While the film is inspired by true events, it is not strictly a retelling. Linklater and Powell decided to stray from the facts to focus on one specific story from Hollandsworth’s article. The story involved Johnson’s refusal to go through a police sting for a woman who hired him to kill her abuser, which ultimately led to a romantic relationship between them. This aspect of the plot, while central to the film, is largely fictional.
The Real Gary Johnson
The real Gary Johnson was indeed a college professor and a fake hitman for the Houston Police Department. His work resulted in over 60 arrests. Johnson moved to Houston in 1981 hoping to join the University of Houston’s doctoral program in psychology. When he was not accepted, he became an investigator for the District Attorney’s Office. His fake hitman career began in 1989 when he was assigned to pose as a hitman to carry out a police sting operation.
The perfect chameleon
Johnson’s ability to transform into a variety of characters is invaluable to the police. Michael Hinton, a prominent Houston attorney, called him a “perfect chameleon” who was able to convince people from all walks of life that he was a real professional killer. Hollandsworth even called Johnson “one of the greatest actors of his generation,” emphasizing his ability to perform convincingly in any situation.
Differences between movies and reality
Despite the inspiration from real life, Killer The film introduces several fictional elements. For example, the film exaggerates Johnson’s use of disguises. In reality, Johnson did use minor disguises, but not as much as portrayed in the film. The film’s romantic plot is also largely fictional. Although Johnson did help a victim of abuse, there is no evidence that he was in a romantic relationship with her.
Johnson’s Personal Life
The real Gary Johnson had a complicated personal life. He was married three times, and his second wife described him as a loner. She noted that while he was sociable, he preferred to be alone. His ability to switch between a quiet personality and a stone-cold killer persona was surprising to those who knew him.
A mixture of fact and fiction
Richard Linklater’s Killer blends fact and fiction to create an intriguing story. While the film is inspired by true events, it takes creative liberties to enhance the dramatic and romantic elements of the story. The result is a fascinating film that explores themes of identity, passion, and deception, set by a charismatic performance by Glen Powell as Gary Johnson.
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