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The Killer Inside Me (2010) - Trailer Included
Poster for The Killer Inside Me
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Casey Affleck, Ned Beatty, Elias Koteas, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Bill Pullman, Simon Baker
The late crime novelist Jim Thompson has previously had his gritty work successful translated to the bigscreen by Stanley Kubrick, (The Killing), Sam Peckinpah (The Getaway) and Stephen Frears (The Grifters). His 1952 first person novel The Killer Inside Me has always been considered his most dangerous and since 1956 when Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor were set to star there have been numerous attempts to bring it to cinemas. A largely forgotten adaptation was made In 1978 starring Stacey Keach but it failed to translate Thompson’s incendiary words into pictures.
Now the genre skipping UK Director Michael Winterbottom (Code 46, The Claim, Welcome to Sarajevo) makes his first foray into the American pulp noir genre with a controversial realization. Masochistic sex, sadistic violence and a wry humor melding for a provocative remake that has stirred up protest.
A Norman Bates meets Henry Lee Lucas look at life through the eyes of a psychopath. On the surface Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) is a meek and unassuming small town Texas Deputy. To those that know him he is patient, soft spoken and seldom demonstrative.
When Sherriff Elmer Conway (Jay R Ferguson) orders Lou to run local whore Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba) out of town the task reveals the monster within. His youthful, tender features mask the evil that lurks in his core, his collapsing mind exploding with destructive necessity.
Taking perverted pleasure in dominating his abused prey, Ford taunts his victim. His diseased psyche losing control of the demons blood lust, unleashed with shocking ferociousness. Struggling to avoid suspicion he maintains a shroud of innocence while the need for self preservation feeds homicidal desires.
Lou Ford on the dusty highway to hell
John Doe says:
Lou massages trust from Joyce.
Dripping in a lone star atmosphere, Michael Winterbottom doesn’t go the traditional noir route of stylizing the film with heavy shadow play instead he adopts a raw edge tone that is sparsely populated. Unblinking in his coverage of the frenzied acts of violence he refuses to give the audience sanctuary in rationalizing or sanitizing their reactions. Flickering flashbacks show a malfunctioning nurture and the illusion of sanity polluted from childhood shaping the purposeful picture. Providing no voyeuristic joy his intent is clearly to contemplate our own fascination with primal urges.
The jazzy, bright graphics of the opening credits cunningly notify the way Lou sees his own story, though we only realize it as the narration develops. The use of certain musical queues like the song ‘Shame on Me” add the necessary flair to highlight technique and inspire metaphorical conflict between image and sound.
John Curran’s script has a pit-bull’s, lock-jaw clamp on the underlying themes beneath the public face of normalcy. Of behavior that dissolves into dark volatile instincts and can no longer disconnect sex from violence or affection from insecurity. The screenplay resolutely defying an alternate view from that of Lou’s as woman are beaten and love it, suspicions are only revealed when he catches on to how dangerously close to exposure he is. What truly disconcerts is the comedy that seeps in as we see how removed from reality Ford really is.
A lot of this comes from Casey Affleck who continues to capitalize on his understated successes in Gone Baby Gone and The Assassination of Jesse James with another deceptive turn. Managing to rise above the need for character empathy he is unapologetic in humanizing Lou. His muffled southern drawl ripe in contempt, so arrogant yet we watch every non verbal cue for signs of remorse.
Pushed outside their comfort zone Jessica Alba (Sin City) confronts the challenges of the part, alluding to vulnerability while baring portions of skin. The normally bland Kate Hudson lodges her best performance since Almost Famous stepping into her white trash characterization sans ego. Alternate casting may have added extra dimension but both do admirably.
In the supporting roles Ned Beatty (Deliverance) and Elias Koteas (Shutter Island) are both always welcome presences.
It is understandable why The Killer Inside Me has polarized audiences but for John Doe this was a compelling thriller. Not as revolutionary as the novel was upon release, this is a ferocious character study that leaves a taste of guilt in the mouth. Disturbing with insight into the predators we fear most, those hidden creatures that may have crossed our paths.
On a side note, I couldn't resist watching George Steven's A Place In The Sun immediately after wards...even though I had only recently revisited the classic.
Trailer for The Killer Inside Me
Director Michael Winterbottom discusses his film
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You can now read my review if you like and see what I thought.. I didnt mind it, and actually had fun with the over the top ending, but the whole thing seemed a bit pale to me.
great bit of trivia about the Brando one that was attempted, that could have been something!
I see you comparison to A Place In The Sun vaguely, but that was a much better film than this one
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Film & TV on DVD
For me, it certainly had stylistic flaws but i would argue its more that it didn't make traditional choices with the look.
The ending for me totally fitted with the fact it was all told through Lou's eyes. If your going to go the ludicrous route, the way he perceives Jessica Alba to respond to his beating is possibly more agitating...but not for me.
Alba was good in the role and certainly delivered what was needed...I don't have your faith in her range though.
Jesse James is in a league of its own, so I concur on Affleck. Still a very refined performance as Lou.
I know you don't like having your buttons pushed too and admit this one pokes you with its index finger. But sometimes I like being tickled like that
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I gave me a hankering for A Place in the Sun because of the similarities with the main character. Both look harmless, with meek exteriors and both try to hide what's inside them for personal gain etc.
I didn't see the lack of understanding of material, I saw Winterbottom knowing that we can rely on intuition to follow the character. That he has faith we will know this is Lou's warped mind we are seeing and that nothing is true. I also like that he tried to break the rules of the genre especially with visual style and tone.
Not perfect but still a good film in my eyes. (7/10)
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So us agreeing is validation for my opinion? Because it's you I can support that
Film & TV on DVD
For the record The Fifth Element does indeed Suck and blow simultaneously.
Bad story telling, terrible performances, ridiculous plotting and a travesty of a finale...that's for starters.
Just to be contrary, I will argue that the Diva scene, if viewed as a short film is spectacular.
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hahahahahaha!