Stanley Kubrick once said of Jim Thompson’s 1952 novel, The Killer Inside Me, “probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered”.
I agree. Michael Winterbottom’s film adaptation of Thompson’s novel is spine-chilling, sadistic and without a doubt, in your face. For the entire 109 minutes, the viewer is taken on a violent and chilling fare of a modern day film noir.
The plot is straightforward. Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) is a likeable deputy sheriff in a West Texas town. He is friendly with the locals, soft-spoken and hard-working – on the surface. What lies beneath is Ford’s dark secret. He turns out to be a psychotic, sociopath who gets a sexual kick out of beating women with a belt before punching them in the face. Winterbottom doesn’t shy away from showing Ford’s bursts of uncontrollable violence.
It is Ford’s character that manipulates and schemes those that like him into thinking he is an innocent sheriff and as soon as they turn their back, he finishes them off just as easily as he can wipe the guilt from his hands.
Ford doesn't believe he`s a bad guy, but at the same time, he`s smart enough to know that what he`s doing is bad. He shows no remorse as he uses the most inhumane tactics to kill his prostitute lover (Jessica Alba) and fiancée (Kate Hudson).
Like most films of this nature, Ford gets found out and presented with the uncovered truth in a literally explosive ending.
In the hope that this film doesn't get unfairly tainted in the light of some inevitably negative reactions, The Killer Inside Me is just one of those films that truly is not for everyone.

Release date: 28th July 2010

Rating: M

Length: 109 minutes

Cast: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Elias Koteas, Simon Baker, Bill Pullman, Brent Briscoe, Matthew Maher, Liam Aiken

Screenplay: John Curran

Director: Michael Winterbottom