Set in rural Texas in 1952, The Killer Inside Me is based on a book written by Joe Thompson in the same year. A word of warning: This movie is quite disturbing.
Casey Affleck plays Lou Ford, a serial killer who doesn't show any potential for violence until a very attractive prostitute shows up in town (Jessica Alba). She enjoys a little pain with her fun. This is NOT the disturbing part. Ford also has a long-time girlfriend Amy Stanton (Kate Hudson) who has no clue what he's really like until it's too late.
The disturbing scenes in the movie are the beating deaths of both ladies. If you are in any bit squeamish of seeing physical abuse, you either should skip this movie or at least cover your eyes. It's brutal. The movie, as a whole, is slow, but not really in a good way. Where there should be more character development during the dialog, there is none. There is almost no character development for the women in his life, which almost makes it difficult to feel any kind of attachment during the brutal beating scenes.
Affleck's whiny and gravelly voice adds more irritation to the slow progression of the movie. Obviously, he slowed everything down to portray his Texan character, but it's almost too slow. His character seems more like a half-wit instead of a true sociopath.
Sociopaths are known for blending in, so his half-witted character makes sense, but there are a few scenes that also don't ring true for sociopaths. Ford has flashbacks to his old babysitter who also enjoyed a little rough play. Then, after he believes he's killed his lover, he remembers the fun he had with her. First, sociopaths are born not made, it's a medical condition in the brain; second, sociopaths have no conscious, so he can't love anyone. I completely understand how this could have made it in the book, but more than 50 years later, the screenwriters really should have made a few creative allowances to portray him more accurately.
The overall look and cinematography are great. Colors are bland and dry, just like we assume rural Texas would be and the angles are clean. Costume and set are dead-on, or at least really close for a period movie. I did spot a modern Budweiser glass bottle though. The Killer Inside Me is worth a glance if you can handle the brutality.
As a consolation, the ending at least will leave you sort of happy that Ford gets what he deserves. Gwen Bishop
Casey Affleck plays Lou Ford, a serial killer who doesn't show any potential for violence until a very attractive prostitute shows up in town (Jessica Alba). She enjoys a little pain with her fun. This is NOT the disturbing part. Ford also has a long-time girlfriend Amy Stanton (Kate Hudson) who has no clue what he's really like until it's too late.
The disturbing scenes in the movie are the beating deaths of both ladies. If you are in any bit squeamish of seeing physical abuse, you either should skip this movie or at least cover your eyes. It's brutal. The movie, as a whole, is slow, but not really in a good way. Where there should be more character development during the dialog, there is none. There is almost no character development for the women in his life, which almost makes it difficult to feel any kind of attachment during the brutal beating scenes.
Affleck's whiny and gravelly voice adds more irritation to the slow progression of the movie. Obviously, he slowed everything down to portray his Texan character, but it's almost too slow. His character seems more like a half-wit instead of a true sociopath.
Sociopaths are known for blending in, so his half-witted character makes sense, but there are a few scenes that also don't ring true for sociopaths. Ford has flashbacks to his old babysitter who also enjoyed a little rough play. Then, after he believes he's killed his lover, he remembers the fun he had with her. First, sociopaths are born not made, it's a medical condition in the brain; second, sociopaths have no conscious, so he can't love anyone. I completely understand how this could have made it in the book, but more than 50 years later, the screenwriters really should have made a few creative allowances to portray him more accurately.
The overall look and cinematography are great. Colors are bland and dry, just like we assume rural Texas would be and the angles are clean. Costume and set are dead-on, or at least really close for a period movie. I did spot a modern Budweiser glass bottle though. The Killer Inside Me is worth a glance if you can handle the brutality.
As a consolation, the ending at least will leave you sort of happy that Ford gets what he deserves. Gwen Bishop