Recently hit with an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, the first trailer for Emile Hirsch and Juno Temple‘s crime thriller “Killer Joe” shows us why.

Starring Matthew McConaughey (in what could be a career-defining role) as the titular killer, the film follows Hirsch’s Chris Smith, a desperate young man who owes a debt and decides to have his mother murdered in order to obtain her life insurance. Temple stars as the sister who is used as collateral, and things very quickly begin to spiral out of control.

The film premiered last year at Venice Film Festival and reviews came back good, with many calling it dark, thrilling, and bizarre. Perhaps most surprisingly however, considering the tone of the trailer, is how funny the film actually is – albeit clearly a dark humor.

“Killer Joe” is set for general release July 27th 2012. See the first trailer below.