‘The killer inside me’ is based on a book by Jim Thompson about a sadistic small town sheriff set in 1950s America. The novel has had many attempts at being adapted into a film dating back to the 1950s. Many directors and producers have tried and failed to get the production off the ground. The subject matter is controversial; having the main character and storyteller the villain of the piece, and the storyline vilifying small-town America and violence against women. A film version was made in 1976 with Stacy Keach as the main character but did not receive much success.
The film charts the story of a small town deputy sheriff, Lou Ford (Casey Affleck), who’s polite and courteous personality hides a sadistic side to him. Lou Ford is a serial killer who shows no remorse at all to the pain he causes around him. Inflicting abuse on his fiancée Amy Stanton (Hudson), a small town girl of the area and a prostitute, Joyce (Alba).
The violence has received much controversy but is delicately handled, this is not the comic book violence seen in Kick-ass and others of that genre this is brutal, unrelenting violence that forces the audience to look away or cringe; and that is its intention. Like Michael Haneke (Funny Games) Winterbottom is known for his realistic and controversial approach to filmmaking not moving the camera away from the violence but witnessing every punch. This film does not in anyway glamorise violence to women, its unflinching portrayal of Lou’s relationships with Joyce and his fiancée Amy (Kate Hudson) only lend sympathy for the women who either care too much for Lou to do anything to defend themselves or are imprisoned by the society they live in.
This brings us to the performances; Casey Affleck proves himself again as the best actor of his generation. This is a role we have never seen him in before, his powerful performance as the cunning, cold hearted serial killer echoes performances as infamous as Kevin Spacey’s John Doe in Seven. It is sharp and nuanced and always stays true to the source and realism. As for Jessica Alba, although she doesn’t have a lot of screen time she has proved she is able to make intelligent film choices and gives an emotional turn as the prostitute who becomes embroiled in Ford’s torment. Hudson reminds us why she was nominated for an Oscar for Almost Famous and that she is a talented actress but needs the right story or script for her talent to show.
Although the violence and subject matter may put off some audience members this is a powerful and thought provoking film that analyses the psychology of a serial killer without glamorising the violence and subject matter. Be warned this is not comfortable viewing and will stay with you for hours after the credits roll…