Search Results for: killer inside me

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

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The Killer Inside Me (2010)

Director:  Michael Winterbottom

Screenplay: John Curran based on the Jim Thompson novel

Stars: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s turn Jim Thompson’s noir classic into a movie.”

No Tagline

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Lou Ford [Affleck] is a mild-mannered small town Texas Deputy in the 1950’s.  Ford is also a psychopathic killer.  One murder leads to another and although the local DA begins to suspect Ford, witness keep ending up dead.

Rating:

Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me Gets New Life with IDW

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The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson is a classic.  Written 62 years ago, The Killer Inside Me has been the subject of two film adaptations, has been a major influence on countless novelists, screenwriters, lyricists and yet has never had a comic adaptation until now.

IDW is publishing the comic adaptation of The Killer Inside Me as a comic mini-series written by Devin Faraci and illustrated by Vic Malhotra.  Faraci recently spoke with Zack Smith at Newsarama about how Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me Gets New Life with IDW.

If you’re at all interested in The Killer Inside Me‘s importance to the genre, influence on generations or what goes into creating a worthy adaptation, then this interview is for you!

The Killer Inside Me Almost Out

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I’ve been looking forward to the movie adaptation of Jim Thompson’s classic The Killer Inside Me since it was first announced back in 2002.  As you can see from the poster above, our wait is almost over.

I really like the vibe that this poster gives off.  You can see a serial killer-sized version of it over at IMPAwards.com.  You can also see the creepy [and I mean that in a good way] trailer here.

The Killer Inside Me

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It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly eight years since we posted that Jim Thompson’s classic novel The Killer Inside Me was set to become a major motion picture.  Of course a lot has changed since then.  Dominic “Swordfish” Sena was set to direct and no stars had been named.  The reality is that Michael Winterbottom ended up helming the feature with Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker and Bill Pulman co-starring.

A Killer Inside Me is my favorite Thompson book and I hope that everything comes together to make it a good film.  Unfortunately, there’s already been a lot of controversy coming from it’s screening at Sundance.  I guess we’ll know how good it is soon enough… once the distributor decides on a release date.

“Killer Inside Me” Coming But Who to Play Lou Ford?

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Earlier this week Variety reported that Dominic Sena (“Gone in 60 Seconds”) will direct the 1952 pulp fiction classic “The Killer Inside Me” by Jim Thompson. While I didn’t care much for “Gone in 60 Seconds” because of the story, I am fairly excited about the prospects for “The Killer Inside Me.”

First of all, it’s an excellent book, considered by many to be Jim Thompson‘s best. Stanley Kubrick called it “the most chilling and believeable first-person story of a criminally warped mind that I have ever encountered.” I agree.

But who to play the main character, Lou Ford, a sheriff’s deputy with a psychopathic side? My vote would be for someone totally unexpected… someone like Sylvester Stallone! Fans have been wanting to see him play a bad guy… well, this could be the role. Whoever is chosen should be playing totally against character… someone that everyone would NEVER suspect is a psychopathic murderer… if not Sly then maybe Harrison Ford? At any rate… check out the book!

“The Killer is Loose” (1956) / Z-View

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The Killer is Loose (1956)

Director:  Budd Boetticher

Screenplay:  Harold Medford from a story by John Hawkins and Ward Hawkins

Starring:  Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey,  Alan Hale Jr., Michael Pate and John Larch

Tagline: He was no ordinary killer… She was no ordinary victim… This is no ordinary motion picture!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Leon Poole (Corey) is a mild-mannered teller who police learn was the inside man on an an attempted bank robbery.  As police go to arrest Poole at his apartment, he decides to shoot it out with them.  When Detective Sam Wagner (Cotten) returns fire, he accidently kills Poole’s wife.

Poole is captured, tried and convicted. Before Poole is escorted out of the courtroom, and while staring at Detective Wagner’s wife, Poole calmly states that he will one day get his revenge.

Two years later Poole escapes from prison.  It turns out that Poole is a sociopath who has nothing on his mind other than killing Detective Wagner and his wife.  As the murders pile up, it is clear that Poole is on his way to extract his revenge and no amount of police will stop him!

The All-Time Best Heist Movies!

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Matthew Jackson at Mental Floss presents The 25 Greatest Heist Movies of All Time.  Jackson’s list is a good one.  I’ve seen 18 of the 25 films listed.  Here are my thoughts on each of the movies Jackson selected.

1. THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950) – An excellent choice for number one.  John Huston directs a great cast in a classic film.

2. RIFIFI (1955) – The heist itself is an extended classic scene without dialogue.  Another excellent choice.

3. THE LADYKILLERS (1955) – I haven’t seen this one.

4. THE KILLING (1956) – I love this film and it gets better with each viewing. I wouldn’t have argued if it had placed higher.

5. BOB LE FLAMBEUR (1956) – I haven’t seen this one, but would like to.

6. THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968) – The first film on the list that I’ve seen and didn’t love.  In fact I would have chosen McQueen in The Getaway instead.

7. THE ITALIAN JOB (1969) – I haven’t seen it.

8. THE STING (1973) – Newman and Redford re-teamed for an excellent follow-up to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

9. DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975) – A unique story told from a perspective most wouldn’t expect.

10. BLUE COLLAR (1978) – I’ve never seen this one and until this list didn’t realize it was a heist film.

11. THIEF (1981) – Thief takes us into a world alien to us civilians.  You can see the groundwork for Heat being developed by Mann.

12. DIE HARD (1988) – A classic.  Until this list, I had never considered Die Hard to be a heist movie but it is.

13. RESERVOIR DOGS (1992) – My favorite Tarantino movie.  

14. HEAT (1995) – Love this one.  I wonder why it didn’t rate higher.

15. BOTTLE ROCKET (1996) – I haven’t see this one.

16. OUT OF SIGHT (1998) – I was surprised by how much I liked this one.  I need to see it again.

17. SEXY BEAST (2000) – I haven’t seen this one.

18. OCEAN’S ELEVEN (2001) – Saw it when it was first released and thought it was ok.

19. INSIDE MAN (2006) – Another movie that I thought was just ok.

20. THE TOWN (2010) – I love The Town and would have rated it much higher.

21. FAST FIVE (2011) – I like the Fast & Furious series but truthfully they all start to run together as they get more and more outlandish.  I still dig ’em though.

22. HELL OR HIGH WATER (2016) – Surprisingly good and doesn’t follow the typical Hollywood format.

23. BABY DRIVER (2017) – What a stylishly unique film.  I can’t wait to see it again… 

24. LOGAN LUCKY (2017) – This was a much better and funnier movie than I expected.

25. WIDOWS (2018) – I haven’t seen it, but wouldn’t mind doing so.

Click over to Matthew Jackson’s The 25 Greatest Heist Movies of All Time to see trailers and learn more about each film.

The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time, According to Critics

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Josh Lynch at Business Insider posted The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time, According to Critics.  Lynch’s list is a good one worth checking out.

Here are three of my favorites and some comments…

69. “28 Days Later” (2003)

Critic score: 86%

Audience score: 85%

What critics said: “The movie’s craft makes the dread of a killer virus contagious: viewers may feel they have come down with a case of secondhand SARS or sympathetic monkeypox.” — Time

What Craig said:  I’m a huge fan of 28 days later.  While quite a few folks like to argue if 28 days later is truly a zombie film or not, I’d rather spend the time re-watching it.

39. “Train to Busan” (2016)

Critic score: 95%

Audience score: 88%

What critics said: “A zombie movie content not to aspire to any loftier subtextual readings needs little more than a skilled choreographer of action, and there’s plenty of evidence that this film had one in Yeon.” — The AV Club

What Craig said:  Train to Busan came out of nowhere to be one of my favorite horror films in recent years.  I hadn’t heard the buzz before seeing it.  This is a zombie movie with heart.  Dong-seok Ma should be a breakout star.  If you haven’t caught the Train to Busan you owe it to yourself to give it a ride.  Just be aware that not everyone makes it to the final stop.

2. “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920)

Critic score: 100%

Audience score: 89%

What critics said: “Undoubtedly one of the most exciting and inspired horror movies ever made.” — Time Out

What Craig said: Of the three movies from this list that I chose to highlight, I’ll bet that The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is the one that has been seen the least by those reading this.  It has three strikes against it:

1.  It is a silent film.

2.  It is a foreign silent film.

3.  It is nearly 100 years old.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari has a twist ending that would make M. Night Shamalan and Rod Serling high-five.  When I first watched The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari I thought the choices being made in set design were due to budget restrictions and experimentation with expressionism and the relatively new form of story-telling called film.  I was wrong… at least partially.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari tells the tale of a serial killer hypnotist who uses a somnambulist to commit murders. The film takes advantage of the lack of color film and makes the most of a light and shadow with sets that are off-kilter.

If you haven’t seen The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and you’re a film lover, give it a try.

There’s a Killer on the Road

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A passerby found the severed head on Feb. 10, wrapped in two plastic bags and stuffed inside a backpack in Barstow, Calif. Authorities still haven’t identified the victim or her killer, but the circumstances point in a particular direction

So begins Blake Morrison’s article on highway serial killers for the USAToday.  According to Morrison…

,…In the past four decades, 459 deaths and 41 attempted homicides are believed to be linked to serial killers who are using the nation’s highways to find and dispose of their victims.

Although the story has the makings of a very creepy movie or novel, it’s even more frightening to imagine that it’s true.  You can read the full article and check out how many “highway killings” in each state are thought to be the work of serial killers by clicking here.

More “Killer Inside” Controversy

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A couple of days ago I posted about the  controversy that director Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of Jim Thompson’s classic novel The Killer Inside Me received at the Sundance Film Festival. Several people walked out of the screening due to the amount and depiction of violence, especially against women.

The film starring, Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker and Bill Pulman is set to be shown at the Berlin Film Festival.  Of course questions about the controversy at Sundance and the level of violence came up.  I like Winterbottom’s response:

“A lot of noir books and films show violence as something which is entertaining… What I liked about Jim Thompson’s books is that… he doesn’t use the violence as entertainment — there is something shocking about the violence… For me that was the point of the violence in the film in a way — it is something very repulsive. In terms of how we depicted it, we were just trying to make it as close to the book as possible. The book is very shocking.”

Although I like Winterbottom’s response, I wonder how I’ll enjoy his movie.  There are ways to depict violence that is shocking without dwelling on it or being overly graphic.   Some times, many times in fact, the more left to the imagination, the more shocking the result.  It’ll be interesting to see the response The Killer Inside Me gets in Berlin.

REVELATION by Robert Knott / Z-View

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REVELATION by Robert Knott

First sentence…

Augustus Noble Driggs was lying inside the small stone room on a bunk, thinking about Jesus and whatnot.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

US Marshall Virgil Cole and Deputy Everette Hitch receive word that several convicts have escaped prison. Worse still, they have taken the warden’s wife with them.  One of the escapees is none other than Augustus Noble Driggs.  Driggs is “square-jawed, handsome, and built like a muscled thoroughbred stallion.”  He’s well educated, resourceful and a West Point graduate.  Driggs is accurate with both pistol and long rifle.  Smart, physically fit and capable.  Driggs is a stone cold killer and dangerous adversary.

Virgil and Everette ride out to track down Driggs and the convicts.  Little do they know that an equal danger is brewing in Appaloosa.

+++++

Robert Knott does Robert B. Parker proud with another Virgil and Everett yarn.

Rating:

“Trap” (2024) written & directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Josh Hartnett / Z-View

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Trap (2024)

Director:  M. Night Shyamalan

Screenplay: M. Night Shyamalan 

Stars: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Marcia Bennett, M. Night Shyamalan, Lochlan Miller and Hayley Mills.

Tagline:  30,000 fans. 300 cops. 1 serial killer. No escape.

The Plot…

From all appearances Cooper (Harnett) is a great guy.  He’s a firefighter, outgoing and friendly.  Cooper is married with two kids.  A real family man.

Because his daughter, Riley (Donoghue) earned great grades on her last report card, Cooper takes her to a Lady Raven (S, Shyamalan) concert.  As they enter the arena, Cooper notices a huge police presence.  When they get inside, there are even more cops.  They seem to be everywhere.  Well, safety should be a priority for events this well attended.

Once the concert starts, Cooper notices men are being escorted out by the police.  Now curious and concerned, Cooper tells his daughter he’s going to the restroom.  Then using his charm, Cooper learns a secret.  The police are there because they got a lead that the serial killer known as The Butcher is in attendance.  Every exit is covered.  Police and FBI are there in force.  They have a description of The Butcher and anyone fitting it, will be questioned before he is allowed out.

Cooper is concerned.  Not because a serial killer is at the concert.  No.  Cooper is concerned because he is The Butcher.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Saleka Shyamalan makes her film debut.  She is M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter and a singer/songwriter.  Saleka wrote and performed all of the songs in the movie.  The official Trap movie soundtrack is titled Lady Raven and features all of the songs from the movie.

The concert feels real.  Kudos to M. Night, Saleka and all involved.

Some aspects come off as very contrived, but M. Night Shyamalan is adept at keeping things moving.  This way viewers go with the flow.  I was expecting Cooper to get caught or escape then fade to credits.  M. Night Shyamalan had a different idea.  There’s no big twist (as in some of his films) but there are some unexpected turns.  I enjoyed the ride.

Trap (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“48 Hrs.” (1982) directed by Walter Hill, starring Nick Nolte & Eddie Murphy / Z-View

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48 Hrs. (1982) 

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Roger Spottiswoode, Walter Hill, Larry Gross, Steven E. de Souza

Stars: Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Annette O’Toole, Frank McRae, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Sonny Landham, Brion James, Kerry Sherman, James Keane, Greta Blackburn, Margot Rose, Denise Crosby, Olivia Brown, Todd Allen, Jack Thibeau, Ola Ray and Jonathan Banks.

Tagline: The boys are back in town. Nick Nolte is a cop. Eddie Murphy is a convict. They couldn’t have liked each other less. They couldn’t have needed each other more. And the last place they ever expected to be is on the same side. Even for… 48 HRS

The Plot…

When San Francisco detectives, Cates (Nolte),  Algren (Banks) and Van Zant (Keane) attempt to arrest two escaped convicts, things go sideways.  Algren and Van Zant are killed.  The convicts get away.

Detective Cates has a plan to catch the killers.  He’s getting a 48 hour supervised prison release for Reggie Hammond (Murphy). Hammond is a fast-talking, hip con man and thief.  Hammond also worked with one of the convicts.  Cates believes Hammond’s inside info will lead him to the convicts.

Cates and Hammond take an instant dislike to each other.  Over the next 48 hours they may develop a friendship… if they survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The idea of a cop and a convict working together had been floating around for a while.  Paramount hired Walter Hill to write a script with the idea that Clint Eastwood would play the convict.  Hill did, but when he finished he said he thought the script would work better with Eastwood playing the cop and someone like Richard Pryor playing the convict.  The project went into limbo until a few years passed.  Hill was brought back to work with Nolte and Eddie Murphy (in his feature film debut).

Eddie Murphy wasn’t the first actor considered for the role.  Gregory Hines was.  Other actors considered before Murphy included Howard Rollins, Jr. and Denzel Washington.

Eddie Murphy’s character’s name originally was Willie Biggs.  Murphy thought it sounded like a “Hollywood, made-up, black guy’s name” so it was changed to Reggie Hammond.

Nick Nolte was paid one million dollars and got top billing.  Eddie Murphy made $450,000.00.  For the sequel Murphy got top billing and seven million dollars, while Nolte made three million dollars.

Director Walter Hill has a brief cameo as a convict in the opening chain gang scene.

Nolte and Murphy, Remar and Landham are perfectly cast.  Each pair has the right chemistry.

48 Hrs. (1982) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Prospect” (2018) starring Sophie Thatcher & Pedro Pascal / Z-View

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Prospect (2018)

Director:  Zeek Earl, Chris Caldwell

Writer: Zeek Earl, Chris Caldwell

Stars: Sophie Thatcher, Jay Duplass, Pedro Pascal and Anwan Glover

Tagline: No One Survives Alone

The Plot…

Damon (Duplass) and his teenage daughter, Cree (Thatcher) are prospectors who’ve just landed on a remote planet full of danger. The atmosphere is toxic.  There are rival prospectors who will kill them for their goods.  They are on a strict timeline to return to the transport ship that will get them home.  To make matters worse, their pod was damaged during the landing.

On the way to their dig, Damon and Cree find an abandoned mine. Damon works an area and comes up with a fleshy substance.  He carefully dissects it to reveal a valuable gem worth more than enough to get Damon and Cree home.  Cree begs her father for them to take the gem and leave.  She’s worried that they will be delayed and miss the transport.  Damon refuses. They will continue to the main dig aka the “Queen’s Lair”.  He believes that it contains unimaginable riches.

As they head out, Damon takes the lead with Cree trailing behind.  Suddenly Damon is stopped by two men holding weapons.  They plan to rob him.  Cree is out of sight as her father suggests that the men join him in mining the Queen’s Lair.  One of the prospectors, Ezra (Pascal) agrees.  The other remains silent.  Damon sees Cree with her weapon drawn.  When she comes into full view, Damon grabs Ezra’s weapon.

With the tables turned, Damon decides to rob the two men.  Suddenly the silent one shoots Damon who in turn returns fire killing the man.  As her father lies dying, Ezra shoots and kills him.  Cree turns and runs back to the pod .  Unable to get the it ready to launch, Cree finds herself trapped inside when Ezra shows up.  He suggests that they work together to escape from the hostile planet  and other mercenaries who would kill them on sight.

With no option but to trust her father’s killer, she allows him into the pod.  The clock is ticking and the transport ship won’t wait.  Cree and Ezra head out into the wilderness…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’d never seen Sophie Thatcher before.  She more than holds her own.  Pedro Pascal is excellent.  They are the heart and soul of the film.

Zeek Earl and  Chris Caldwell, the writers/directors of Prospect came up with very cool ideas.  The remote, toxic planet, the young girl and her father’s killer who must team up, the mercenaries and other strange characters that they meet along the way as well as the deadline to get back to the transport ship looms.  All of these things play out in the movie.  I just wish that each concept was better developed.

Prospect (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.