The Killer Inside Me

Starring: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Elias Koteas, Simon Baker, Bill Pullman
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A deputy (Casey Affleck) in rural Texas in the 1950s is a polite, kind, helpful man. He is also a murderer, intelligent enough to get away with it.

Review:

Tim: The Killer Inside Me is not an easy film to watch. It is certainly controversial, and polarizing, for good reason. I understand that many people will automatically dislike the extreme violence (which is often very difficult to watch), and therefore, not like the movie. However, I think the violence is important. This is a gritty, adult movie- and that is refreshing. Now, I love these comic book movies as much (probably more) than the next guy, but I also appreciate grown up entertainment as well. This is completely an adult movie- there is no pandering to the audience here. That was refreshing, and it made me like this movie more.

Casey Affleck is the main reason this movie works. In recent years, he has become an increasingly strong actor, and this might be his best performance. I still feel haunted by his coldblooded, chilling performance. The calm he exhibits as he commits some heinous crimes is something that was difficult to watch, and I just can't shake. I don't know if I will ever forget his portrayal of a sociopath here. Affleck is terrific, and I believed his character completely. He was obviously a very disturbed man, but I believed how he could hide this all deep inside himself. Affleck's performance makes this movie.

The supporting cast is good, too. I often criticize Jessica Alba for some pretty terrible performances throughout her career. Her acting is certainly suspect. However, her performance here makes me pause before I pass judgment too quickly. She's certainly not Oscar worthy, but she gives a good portrayal of prostitute who falls in love. Her time on screen was believable and added to the movie- that isn't always the case with her, and I want to give her credit for really putting in some effort here. Kate Hudson likewise gives a good performance. I don't think she was terrific, but it is certainly a solid turn. She has a few moments where she really, really shines.

The rest of the supporting players work, too. I enjoyed Ned Beatty in a smaller role, and the presence of Elias Koteas is always a major plus. I felt like Simon Baker was a bit out of place, but I have nothing negative to say about his performance. Finally, I absolutely loved seeing Bill Pullman here, but I desperately wish he had more to do. I felt like Pullman was wasted here.

After so many decades of violent movies, I sometimes believe I have been desensitized to it. This movie proved me wrong. It features several scenes of brutal violence, specifically against women. These scenes were incredibly hard to watch. I think of myself as a pretty tough guy, but I admit I cringed during these moments. However, I didn't hate these moments. Violence against women happens every day all over the world, and it's too easy to turn a blind eye to it. This movie confronts you with it, and it's not pleasant at all.

While there is much to like about this movie, it's still not great. Affleck's character is fascinating, but I wish we had more background into his character. We have a few moments from his youth, but so much was left unsaid or up to the audience to put together ourselves. I wish we had a bit more info, so it wasn't all guesswork. I also have some criticism of the film's ending. It may have been left ambiguous on purpose, but it felt out of place in this film. I don't necessarily buy the dream or imagined finale, but some do. The ending could have been clearer and more effective. There are also a number of scenes that drag a bit. Finally, (and this might be my biggest complaint), I couldn't care about any of the characters. Sure, I didn't want to see women being brutally beaten and killed, but I didn't care about them as people. Affleck is a fascinating character, but not one you can root for. All of the supporting characters were flawed or weren't given enough development, so I didn't really care about them, either. This made me feel a bit removed from the film. So, I was interested, but not really invested.

Despite that, The Killer Inside Me is a solid film. It is a hard movie to watch, but it is refreshing in its violence and its unflinching portrayal of the dark side of humanity. It features a truly stunning performance by Affleck, and I left the movie with a new appreciation of his acting talents. I liked this movie, and though flawed, it does just enough to be a success.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gone Baby Gone, No Country For Old Men