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Oct 23, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I'm a big fan of pulp prince Jim Thompson and "The Killer Inside Me" is one of his most infamous books. So even though this received mixed reviews and generated some controversy for its violence, I was interested enough to check it out. The violence, which manifests itself in two particularly brutal beatings, is nasty, but it's meant to be and it's there in the novel. The real problem is that the movie is slow, too long (pulp needs to be quick and potent, like a shot of well whiskey), and misses the spirit of Thompson. British director Michael Winterbottom just doesn't have a feel for the material and it's too bland, despite the extreme violence. Casey Affleck as a seemingly normal small town sheriff who harbors a sick homicidal streak is the best thing about this as he captures a character who doesn't really know how psychotic he is. Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson have thankless roles as the women in his life, and Ned Beatty, Elias Koates, Bill Pullman, and the Mentalist co-star. "The Grifters" and the French "Coup de Torchon" are much superior Thompson adaptations. Some other example of Southwest noir: "Blood Simple," "Red Rock West," "Killer Joe," "Shotgun Stories," and "Thunderheart."