Review of The Killer Inside Me (2010) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013
Directed by Michael Winterbottom, who can go from a film set in the North of England to one set in the American mid-west with ease, and adapted from Jim Thompson's 1952 novel, which was nearly a film back in the 1950's, but the Hays Production Code made a faithful adaptation unworkable.
Winterbottom shows a nasty brutal side to small town America, but it's well made. 1952 in Central City, Texas. Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) is a pillar of the community, someone the people can look up to.
However, he is a violent sociopath, who saw his own brother go to jail in his place after Lou raped a little girl. But, after he's asked to investigate Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba), who is having a relationship with Elmer Conway (Jay R.
Ferguson), son of construction chief Chester Conway (Ned Beatty), Lou begins a passionate, sada-masochistic relationship with Joyce. However, Lou's longtime fiance Amy (Kate Hudson), has always had her suspicions about Lou, and decides to do her own investigating.
This is not a film for everyone, and it is brutal with it's sexual violence and it is quite cold too. But Affleck is a revelation in this film, and goes from kind deputy sheriff to brutal rapist at the flick of a switch.
If made in the 1950's, it would have been a tame film noir, but Winterbottom doesn't shy away from the pain and brutality here.
This review of The Killer Inside Me (2010) was written by Stuart K on 05 Aug 2013.
The Killer Inside Me has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
