A twisted drama about a West Texas deputy sheriff who is slowly unmasked as a psychotic killer, adapted from Jim Thompson’s nasty pulp novel of the same name and directed by British director Michael Winterbottom. Warning: contains graphic violence.

The Plot

Lou Ford played by Casey Affleck is a smalltown deputy sheriff – a seemingly unassuming, respectable young man with impeccable manners, is engaged to a local girl Amy (Kate Hudson), and has the wellbeing of the town’s inhabitants high on his priority list. But he also happens to be a psychopath.

Bribed into getting rid of a prostitute Joyce Lakeland from out of town played by Jessica Alba, he must go to her house and tell her to leave before sundown, however whilst there – he falls for her seductive charms and proceeds to conduct a very unprecedented sado-masochistic relationship with her. Then instead of telling her to leave or even pursuing a secret affair with her – he chooses to get rid of her in the most brutal way possible. Cue a very controversial beating scene of a horrific nature.

As the plot unravels, we are exposed to the broken childhood memories of Lou  in the form of flashbacks and you start to understand why Lou has very sudden violent rampages just when you think his surface is calmer than still water.

The Thoughts

Casey Affleck delivers a shockingly good performance – a fascinating character with so much depth. The way he is silently calculating, outwardly controlled but inwardly a natural-born killer – he would be the last person to have an affair with. His actions are never predictable and even the coldest hearted of killers wouldn’t execute the beatings the way he did.

The scene where Jessica Alba is introduced and also beaten by Casey Affleck is the most memorable scene but also extremely unwatchable – you’ll find yourself squirming with discomfort and occasionally having to look away. Jessica Alba is a convincing pitiful prostitute whose biggest downfall is falling in love with Lou – you find yourself hurting for her as she professes her love to Lou whilst getting her face smashed in.

Then there’s Kate Hudson’s character whom not much is known about at first but after the scene with the letter, you find yourself feeling even more sorry for her than for Jessica Alba.

Although the two female characters could have been developed further as you feel as though they were simply there – sticking around cold Lou Ford for long enough to get saturated in their own blood.

An extremely noir-soaked drama with sadism and brutal savagery that is a haunting tribute to Thompson’s dark, bleak novel.

The Film Buzz Rating: (6/10)

UK Release Date: 8th June 2010

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Writer’s: John Curran (screenplay), Jim Thompson (novel)