The Killer Inside Me

There's something missing from this movie version of the Jim Thompson novel, and I think there's going to be something missing from every movie version of this book. Ya see in the book Lou Ford is a gleeful psychopathic killer hiding behind the charade of being the bumbling sheriff. He pretty much enjoys himself right up until the end when he's setting himself a blaze, along with possibly the only girl he ever loved. And that is probably the most chilling thing about the book is how much he enjoys being psychotic. But there's a lot of difference between reading about killings and showing them in graphic detail on the screen. In the book I believe Thompson dispensed with some of the deaths with just a few words (although it's been a long time since I read it). There's no way to put these killings on the screen with the kind of realism today's audiences demand and leave any room for glee. I remember being afraid of Deputy Ford reading the book but somehow we don't get that from this movie. We're kind of more just following along the chain of events, following Ford just because he's the main character that we're always with. This one seems better than the 70s version, which I did not make it very far through. Stacy Keach looked more like Lou Ford in my mind, but that movie kind of sinks into a swamp of murky attempts to use film to show psychosis. This one is put together much better, but Casey Affleck just looks too young, too clean cut and innocent to really pull this off. He might let Lou Ford inhabit him some, but he doesn't register as a killer who betrays all. The plot by Jim Thompson is a very cleverly thought out chain of events, but trying to bring the characters to life and put this story on film, I don't see it ever working. But kudos to Jim Thompson for his great plot. He gets downright Shakespearean sometimes, especially with the ironies of well-loved Deputy Ford getting his due from a lowly bum who, disconnected from the society, saw right through Ford from the get-go

Overacted and underdeveloped

Why? Just why? There was no need for this movie to be so graphic , I know some will say it was a creative choice , i creatively choose to call this movie sadistic trash!

If you want to see Casey Affleck as a deputy who is a complete sociopath trying to get away with a crime then this movie is for you.

This film was a very faithful adaptation of the book but for some reason didn't catch fire in quite the same way. I think there must have been something about the narrative voice of Lou Ford, and probably the experience of seeing the action unfold on the page instead of in pictures that must account for the difference. I think the filmmakers and actors made a valiant effort here, and I give them credit for that, but if you want to see what all the fuss is about concerning this nasty little sendup of small town America, read the book.

My favorite crime drama! Also easily my favorite Jessica Alba movie

I'm not sure why the rating total is comparatively low for this film, maybe because the main character, the subject matter, etc is so gruesome. And it's gruesome without being a slasher. It's definitely horrific. The main character is a serial killer, an evil officer of the law who gets away with almost everything, until the end. Or does he absolutely get away with everything? Watch it and find out. This definitely drew out some angry emotions. It's very well made. The acting is great. No holds barred. This baby faced officer definitely will make you understand looks are deceiving. I feel so bad for the people who love someone like this. I recommend it but I'm letting you know, you will feel hatred, maybe a little bit of sorry too.

Casey Affleck plays Lou Ford, a sociopathic police officer in a small Texas oil town, in Michael Winterbottom's The Killer Inside Me. Things go off the rails for Lou when he gets involved with Joyce (Jessica Alba), a prostitute new in town, a relationship that ultimately leads to murder, blackmail, and a wide variety of other unsavory behavior. While the story is intriguing and the characters are generally interesting, it is a difficult film to watch at times as Lou unleashes unimaginable violence against the women he claims to love, violence that feels wildly excessive and will leave most viewers either wincing or looking away. However, what ultimately knocks the movie down a few pegs is the absurd finale, possibly one of the most ridiculous and poorly executed endings to a film ever committed to celluloid.

It's things like this that give indies a bad name. The book is weird, to be sure, but at least suceeds in its first person tone of vague remorse, questioning the violence that's dispensed with in a mood of shocking mystery. But here we get nothing but revulsion from the endless, senseless fist-to-skull destruction of beatiful, innocent souls. Wholy unsatisfying. Why was it made?

I thought the extreme violence portrayed was really unnecessary. That scene with Jessica Alba was so hard to watch. And I agree - absolutely no emotional context. There is definitely a disconnect for me between the characters and the audience.