Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of pulp writer Jim Thompson’s “The Killer Inside Me” has already made plenty of headlines so far from its festival runs which have unfortunately seemed to negatively focus on its brutal depiction of violence against women (which is a bit overstated, blame film festival hyperbole).
With the release of a new trailer though, hopefully things will pick up for what is undoubtedly an exciting collaboration between the prolific and versatile Winterbottom and the ever-brilliant Casey Affleck — whose anti-hero protagonist here evidently dominates, teasing with a creepy voice-over at the start not unlike the actor’s work in Andrew Dominik’s ‘The Assassination Of Jesse James.’
The neo-noir story centers on sheriff Lou Ford (Affleck), a bored small-town West Texas cop who spirals into a ruthless, sociopathic murderer digging himself further and further into a hole by trying to cement his innocence when evidence looks suspicious. Our IFFBoston review described Ford as “a vehicle for a straight up study on the mind of a killer” from whom we’ll “exclusively be receiving the point of view of his twisted character.” Does that sound brilliant or what?
“The Killer Inside Me” will see a limited theatrical run on June 18th through IFC Films with Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson co-starring as romantic interests for Ford alongside the likes of Simon Baker, Bill Pullman, Ned Beatty and Elias Koteas.
[Ed. Several members of the Playlist team saw the film at Tribeca (and Boston obviously) and most gave it a rousing thumbs up. This writer thought it was kind of brilliant, gloriously absurd in spots, employed excellent use of music and even had Kubrick-ian shades to it (makes sense since Kubrick worked with Thompson several times). Affleck is incredible and Koteas was an amazing stand-out as well and their scenes together were as riveting and intense in a sweaty, slow-burn manner as anything we’ve seen on screen this year].