DeniReview: The Killer Inside Me (2010)
September 2nd 2010 00:12
Rating: 2.5/5
The Killer Inside Me is the film adaptation of the 1952 American Noir novel of the same name by pulp fiction writer Jim Thompson, directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. The novel was described as "one of the most blistering and uncompromising crime novels ever written." and Mr. Winterbottom attempts to bring that same recognition to the screen.
Lou Ford (Case Affleck) is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a devil in disguise, when we first meet him he is quite affable with squeaky voice, good manners and all around southern charm, no one would suspect that lying dormant underneath this somewhat innocent looking and boyishly handsome face, is a monster. He is sent by his boss, Sheriff Maples to speak with a local prostitute, Joyce (Jessica Alba). Joyce, as it turns out has caught the eye of Elmer Conway (Jay Ferguson), who's the son of powerful land developer, Chester Conway (Ned Beatty). Chester is none to pleased with his son and makes no bones about the fact that he wants Joyce out of the picture.
When Lou visits Joyce, they have a brief spat before they end up having rough sex and from there we understand that the boyish charm, the squeaky voice, and the good manners hides something sinister. Still waters run deep and in Lou's case, played masterfully by Affleck, he's the worst kind of evil, a psychopath with no comprehension of good and bad.
As it turns out Lou Ford also has an old score to settle with Elmer in which case Joyce just might come in handy - dead, despite his protestations of love. Her brutal death is the worst thing I've ever had to sit through, and there are many outcries of violence against women but because of Lou's childhood, in particular, the sexual abuse endured by his mother, he has a warped idea of love especially towards those who reciprocate it and also Winterbottom is making it clear that Lou is not a hero and violence is not to be glorified - it is to be hated and we should be disturbed. Joyce's death is only the beginning and when suspicions point back to him, he has to kill again, even his long-suffering girlfriend, Amy (Kate Hudson).
This film is all about the performances and there's no denying Affleck is remarkable as Lou Ford and the supporting cast is nothing short of outstanding and that's saying a lot considering my opinion of Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba, who both packed a punch (pardon the pun). But the problems I had was with pacing and the sometime feeling of detachment in the narrative. If you are not familiar with the novel, you have to really pay attention in order determine Lou's motivation for setting things in motion. Affleck's performance is amazingly consistent - there is no chink in his armor as he moves on, manipulating people with child-like ease. He lacks any conscience or feelings of remorse and he's not supposed to - he's a sociopath. So, when we see flashbacks of his times with Joyce and disturbing images of his childhood, it's up us to fill in those emotions. But because the lines of good and bad are blurred, there are times when I screamed for closure - we get the idea early on in the film that Lou is just irredeemable and therefore the rest of the movie is an exercise in patience, waiting for the big "blow out" of an ending.
Was the ending a disappointment? Yes. There was one huge flaw that just annoyed me to no end, but otherwise it was justified in accordance with Lou's nature to go out with a "bang" and try to bring as many with him.
Lou Ford (Case Affleck) is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a devil in disguise, when we first meet him he is quite affable with squeaky voice, good manners and all around southern charm, no one would suspect that lying dormant underneath this somewhat innocent looking and boyishly handsome face, is a monster. He is sent by his boss, Sheriff Maples to speak with a local prostitute, Joyce (Jessica Alba). Joyce, as it turns out has caught the eye of Elmer Conway (Jay Ferguson), who's the son of powerful land developer, Chester Conway (Ned Beatty). Chester is none to pleased with his son and makes no bones about the fact that he wants Joyce out of the picture.
When Lou visits Joyce, they have a brief spat before they end up having rough sex and from there we understand that the boyish charm, the squeaky voice, and the good manners hides something sinister. Still waters run deep and in Lou's case, played masterfully by Affleck, he's the worst kind of evil, a psychopath with no comprehension of good and bad.
As it turns out Lou Ford also has an old score to settle with Elmer in which case Joyce just might come in handy - dead, despite his protestations of love. Her brutal death is the worst thing I've ever had to sit through, and there are many outcries of violence against women but because of Lou's childhood, in particular, the sexual abuse endured by his mother, he has a warped idea of love especially towards those who reciprocate it and also Winterbottom is making it clear that Lou is not a hero and violence is not to be glorified - it is to be hated and we should be disturbed. Joyce's death is only the beginning and when suspicions point back to him, he has to kill again, even his long-suffering girlfriend, Amy (Kate Hudson).
This film is all about the performances and there's no denying Affleck is remarkable as Lou Ford and the supporting cast is nothing short of outstanding and that's saying a lot considering my opinion of Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba, who both packed a punch (pardon the pun). But the problems I had was with pacing and the sometime feeling of detachment in the narrative. If you are not familiar with the novel, you have to really pay attention in order determine Lou's motivation for setting things in motion. Affleck's performance is amazingly consistent - there is no chink in his armor as he moves on, manipulating people with child-like ease. He lacks any conscience or feelings of remorse and he's not supposed to - he's a sociopath. So, when we see flashbacks of his times with Joyce and disturbing images of his childhood, it's up us to fill in those emotions. But because the lines of good and bad are blurred, there are times when I screamed for closure - we get the idea early on in the film that Lou is just irredeemable and therefore the rest of the movie is an exercise in patience, waiting for the big "blow out" of an ending.
Was the ending a disappointment? Yes. There was one huge flaw that just annoyed me to no end, but otherwise it was justified in accordance with Lou's nature to go out with a "bang" and try to bring as many with him.
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
I haven't read the book, would like too.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The Killer Inside Me is high on my must see list so I only read the bookend paragraphs of the review.
Alba and Hudson are reasons to stay away but all the other components attract me. Especially Affleck, Winterbottom and Thompson's source.