Review of The Killer Inside Me (2010) by Hatem A — 09 Mar 2011

2.0/4.0.

"The Killer Inside Me" is one of the year's most disappointing movies. A very promising premise adapted from the long-struggling-to-make-it-to-the-big-screen 1952 novel of the same name by Jim Thompson, the movie is the story of a sadistic killer told from the killer's perspective.

The killer is the sweet-faced and calm Deputy Sherriff Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) of a small west Texas town. Behind the peaceful exterior lies a violent sociopath who is into rape, abuse and murder. The movie centers on his relationship with two women: Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba), a prostitute living on the outskirts of town who is entangled with the son of wealthy local businessman Joyce Lakeland (Ned Beatty); and Amy Stanton (Kate Hudson), Ford's loving schoolteacher girlfriend.

Other than the source material and interesting subject matter, the movie had plenty of promise thanks to its cast (which also includes Elias Koteas, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman) and acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom (although I am not his biggest fan). Unfortunately, it fails to live up to its promise. Although this is one of Winterbottom's better efforts as a director (it is stylized in a suiting manner and perfectly captures the essence of the era), I found the movie a somewhat shallow character study and should have had a darker tone. You end up feeling nothing (neither hate nor liking) to Ford's character. The acting is average and the supporting characters are not fully developed. There is a great performance hidden in Hudson's role but it is hindered by the script. The movie took too much attention for its violence, which I have to say is tamer than I had thought. Two scenes that involve the beating of women are a bit discomforting but that is all. The movie was adapted once to the big screen before in 1976 in a little known film that this one is likely to join its ranks.