THE KILLER INSIDE ME
The film is based on one of the most highly acclaimed novels in contemporary literature . (link to reviews). The novel was written by Jim Thompson, author of the GETAWAY, THE GRIFTERS and AFTER DARK MY SWEET, all of which became successful film adaptations.
It is anticipated that a remake of the film will begin production in the summer of 2012 to be filmed on location in an area offering a significant film incentive. Louisiana, Oregon and New Mexico provide several advantages, foremost being that the production would qualify for film tax incentive benefits, among those offering the most generous programs in the United States.
Because it is a tightly contained story, set in a small Southwest community, with no grand special effects, sets, large crowd scenes or difficult production challenges, the picture can be produced at a modest budget of under $2 million even with a major star or two attached.
As an example, New Mexico offers a 25% tax credit plus an interest free production loan based on the producers providing either a negative pickup or letter of credit guarantee with a five year pay back period. This structure provide significant opportunity to garner revenues from distribution of the film sufficient to repay the production loan as well as reap handsome potential profits to the production entity and its financiers. In this regard, the producers will seek to produce and finance the picture as independently as possible in order to maintain the integrity of the project and the realization of the filmmakers' creative vision.
The screenplay has been written by two time Houston film Fest winner, Robert Weinbach. whose script of THE KILLER INSIDE ME garnered the festival’s Gold Award. Weinbach’s Cyclone Productions, will produce the film likely in conjunction with a local production entity from the state where the production will be filmed.
The picture will be directed by a director yet to be chosen.
The Los Angeles Times reported that THE KILLER INSIDE ME is the favorite book of a plethora of name actors and directors, among whom are Sean Penn, Madonna, Bruce Willis, Val Kilmer and more.
The following reflects the approach that producer/writer, Weinbach will seek to employ in the casting and realization of the film.
The filmmakers will cast the pivotal role of Lou Ford with an actor of profound psychological insight and technical virtuosity, capable of generating great compassion and understanding of human character. Lou Ford is a tragic figure of existential anguish suffering from a deep and chronic personality disorder, aware that he carries inside him, his own destruction. He is fatalistic about this reality, yet hopeful of postponing it.
REVIEWS
Couldn't put it down, September 22, 2003: I know crime novels -- I
write them -- and even though this one is fifty years old, it's
absolutely one of the most frightening books I've ever read. I'd do
anything to get this guy's narrative voice. If you've never read Jim
Thompson, start with this one, and you'll end up reading everything
(still in print) that he wrote.
An 'American Psycho' in west Texas, 1950..., November 27, 2001
'The
Killer Inside Me' - my first taste of Jim Thompson, certainly delivers.
Full of punchy dialogue, the story is compact yet forceful.' A deputy
sheriff in a small Texan oil town narrates his thoughts and actions and
inner rage which leads to murder. He is cold, calculating, and very
intelligent. His behaviour is horrific . 'The Killer Inside Me', while
shocking, is a story, brilliantly told wherein we enter the mind of a
homocidal maniac, witness his deeds, and are left speechless. Strongly
recommended.
******
Great
novel. ..,10/31/01: Get this book RIGHT NOW and READ! This is funny,
sick, shocking, gripping... Forget American Psycho. This is the real
stuff. And you'll even find yourself kinda liking ol' Lou. Ford.
Explosive,
August 4, 2001 The Killer Inside Me is so good, run-away explosive
novel. Lou Ford is a sheriff who plays the dunce yet is actually very
educated and intelligent. He also just happens to be a psychopath
waiting to go off like a roman candle. After events light his fuse, the
novel starts to run screaming down the street and begins to laugh so
hard it can't stop and no, that is not the reader laughing. Written in
classic noir style, it transcends the genre and is hard to neatly
label.
No
hoky noir crap--the sociopathic real deal, May 26, 2004 I discovered
Thompson's "Killer Inside Me" at a local bookstore. The cover held my
attention: a deranged, "Deliverancesque" face grimacing at the jagged
orange lines which gave a clue into the psyche of the
"anti-protagonist." Along with Kubrick's blurb (I couldn't imagine a
better or more believable "sociopathic" narrative")
Thompson's
murderer is as mind numbingly complex as the beautifully simple,
commonplace mentality in which he writes. Lou Ford is a small town
sherrif with seemingly honest sensibilities, hardline values, and a
great deal of empathy for the downtrodden and disinherited. Striking
his fellow townspeople as a warm, somewhat monotonous but ever reliable
upholder of the law, Ford's slow and fascinating downfall reveals the
inner world of a man who is not so much a ruthless killer as a
conflicted psychopath attempting to grasp his own identity within the
circumference of his surroundings and by turns tender and vicious
relationships with the opposite sex. The brutal scenes in which he
coldly calculates and executes those who 'stand in his way' (including
women who are seemingly ignorant of 'the sickness' right up until the
bloody end) are so divergent from the rest of his narrative that the
reader is genuinely shocked and frightened. Ford displays not so much a
facade to others as a pathetic 'do gooder' mentality. He needs to
conceal the fact that not only does he lack much emotion of any kind,
but that the other side of his split/schizoid personality could emerge
at any moment.
Ford's relationship with Johnnie Papas, the young
town 'screw up' is perhaps the most poignant aspect of the entire
novel. On one level he seems to genuinely empathize with the young
man's pitiable position in life, as we see understanding dialogues
between the two characters; later, in the depths of the county jail, we
see Lou bash his throat in after giving his 'real', chilling feelings
about the world and Johnnie's honest but rough position in it. In the
last chapter, we see the 'other' Lou Ford full blown. The Killer Inside
Me is undoubtedly one of the most chilling pieces of fiction I have
ever read.
Spellbinding!, April 23, 2001
A
truly wonderful read. At first impression, a folksy book about a
Sherrif's life in a small, sleepy town - a first class deception. As
events unfold, one feels genuine fear. Although some events are
incredible - they are totally plausible. Having read (and enjoyed)
Thomas Harris, James Elroy, and James Patterson. They don't come close
in terms of atmosphere. Many authors instigate fear through gory,
explicit prose.Thompson’s skill goes way beyond description of events
in graphic terms. He creates fear through the simplicity of the events
described, combined with the totally casual way in which the deeds
themselves are enacted. Do yourself a big favour, read this one ....and
soon!!
Brilliant, 03/26/01 If you like crime fiction or true crime, read this book. It's just brilliant.
Jim Thompson: Unheralded Master, February 22, 2001
Thompson
writes about real people in real situations and never once slips on
their psychology. Lou Ford, a small-town Texas sheriff is a character
who is the Id embodied, whose thoughts reveal the undercurrent of his
psychosis. A great surprise ending and a convincingly-portrayed
destruction of a regular Joe who just has to kill.
Great,
November 24, 2000 (Rolléngergronn, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe)
Jim Thompson's 'The Killer Inside Me'. in all its simplicity, is a
thrilling and exciting crime story that it is very hard to put aside!
Since the happenings are depicted from inside Lou Ford’s head, he is
not exactly unsympathetic. In fact, Ford is really a caring and
intelligent individual suffering from serious mental illness. Even
though the story takes place in the 1950s, it is totally contemporary.
Nothing in the story makes it outdated. A brilliant crime story! Easily
and quickly read!
Warning!
Worth buying twice. 10/20/04 - My first taste of Thompson. THE KILLER
INSIDE ME was worth buying twice. The secret ingredient of this novels
is simple: a drawling, folksy, intensely likable first-person narrator
who not only draws you into the story but effortlessly wins your
confidence, slowly, and by small increments, turns into a deranged
psychopath. Suddenly, it dawns on the reader that: a) this character
has been deranged from the first page; and b)ALL your preconceived
notions about characters, settings and situations in the novel may be
dreadfully wrong. Geoffrey O'Brien calls this Thompson specialty the
"sucker punch in which the bottom drops out of everything". Re-reading
this book, I was again floored by his mastery of the trap-door,
essentially switching narrative gears so fluidly that it achieves
something beyond suspense: call it profound unease behind a mask of
utter, banal normalcy. There's more gritty and nightmarish authenticity
in this novel than in a stack of the more 'literary' wannabes who
followed in Thompson’s wake. When Lou Ford grinds his cigar into a
beggar's outstretched palm, laughing like hell, you'll feel a jolt of
electricity and danger few books can deliver. Buy this book NOW.
A Detailed Study of The Sociopath, August 16, 2000
Forget
words like 'hard-boiled' and 'noir'. This is one of the finest studies
of the sociopathic mind ever written. By using the interior monologue,
the reader is carried along on a wave of abject violence unlike any
other in literature. It is truly a carnival ride except it isn't fun.
The darkness is truly a revelation of character. Maybe the Killer is
inside all of us. In Thompson's brilliant writing, it feels possible.
The type of horror Stephen King would be proud of.
Introduction
to mind of a killer., 3/14/00:Lou Ford -stalks his way through a Texas
boom town killing those who have injured him, or who obstruct or offend
him in this piece set in the early 1950s. Thompson grabs you early and
gives you a ride as you gaze into the mind of Lou Ford, a bland,
cliche-spouting deputy albeit engaging psychopath. Thompson crafts a
character that is attractive and yet horrifying. A chilling, absorbing
book!
Texas noir, January 23, 2000
What's
chilling about this guy is he's a sociopath and knows it. Still, he can
logically explain the reasons for each of his murders...until he can't
anymore. Use of the first person is insidious, as the reader gets
inside Lou Ford's head. An amazing, sad, cinematic ending.
A great, scary book, December 30, 1999
Thompson gets so far inside of Lou Ford that once you've finished the book you can't get his voice and laugh out of your mind.
A masterpiece, May 30, 1999
Lou
Ford is one of the most memorable characters in all of crime fiction.
Dark humor and disturbing scenes come together in a nice, riveting
mixture. A MUST have.
The most frightening and exhilarating book I've ever read, December 16, 1998
The
clerk in the Mysterious Bookstore in Manhattan said the best of all the
hard-boiled writers was Jim Thompson and that"The Killer Inside Me,"
was Thompon's best book I read it cover to cover and I was hooked. It
was the best book I had read yet about the dissolute. I felt drawn to
this charater of Lou Ford. I felt for all his problems, he is a sort of
hero for all of us little people who try and try and don't ever seem to
get a break. The phrase, "All of us that started the game with a
crooked cue, that wanted so much and got so little,that meant so good
and did so bad." summed it up for me. He makes his bad guy the hero by
bringing him to this level. The kind of guy who, in a perfect world,
might be great, or at the vey least good, but in this world is left
doing time in the gutter indefinitely. An open letter about this novel.
Read it. Jim Thompson is now my favorite writer. I have comfort in
being able to return to the adventure of meeting Lou Ford and all Jim
Thompson's other creations.
A nightmarishly wonderful experience, October 23, 1998
Imagine
the music of Morphine only in print, with a hint of the brown acid they
warned of at Woodstock. An insane sheriff on a homicidal spree
explained in the first person. If you like noir you'll love this. It
gets no better than “the Killer Inside Me”. To explain more would be
criminal.
Simple, devious, and dark, July 21, 1998
Long
before teenage slasher flicks gave us the killer's-eye-view, Jim
Thompson wrote "The Killer Inside Me," the first-person story of Lou
Ford, the seemingly humble deputy of a small town in Texas. But Lou's
got a couple of deep, dark secrets and a past that'll curl your hair.
There's no looking off-camera in "The Killer Inside Me," but rather a
creepy intimacy that has you wondering whether to sympathize with the
guy or not. Sure he's nuts, but he makes it all sound so *reasonable*,
so matter-of-fact. Along the way, Thompson cranks up the dramatic irony
as more of the locals begin to suspect and close in on Lou, building
the story to a pitch that can only lead to a truly horrific act. The
title of this deceptively simple work of is perhaps misleading-- After
240 pages there's no denying that it's us who are inside the killer.
Jim Thompson is a sick god., May 28, 1998
Nobody
does this stuff better. Forget Brett Easton Ellis and his American
Psycho, --this man is the master, and this book is a classic--not
because it's shocking, which it is, but because it's as well-written
and evocative as anything you're ever going to read.
A noir classic that shouldn't be passed up!!!, April 27, 1998
Jim
Thompson’s "The Killer Inside Me" is considered his all time best
novel, and I can see why. The story of Lou Ford, a small town Deputy
Sheriff, whose seemingly benign appearance, conceals, the murderous
psychopath lurking within his mind, ready to explode at a moments
notice. What makes this so fascinating is the first person narative,
entering the mind of a psychopath, seeing the world through his eyes.
You will not want to put this novel down.
A brilliant and terrifying novel., April 18, 1998
Lou
Ford, a sherriff's deputy in a small Texas town is a little slow on the
uptake, but basically a nice guy. Everyone loves him. No one realizes
he's murderously insane. Thompson writes rip-roaring crime fiction with
an added element of psychological depth that elevates this book beyond
its pulp brethren into the realms of great American novels. A stunning
tour-de-force.
An
incredible character study of a psychopathic misanthrope. When we first
meet, Lou Ford, he seems like your normal small town sheriff. Before
you know it, you're in for quite a ride. He's one of the most sadistic,
misanthropic characters it was ever my pleasure to meet. A great read.
The antidote to sunshine and love.
You're
in for a treat. Jim Thompson’s twisted take on humanity in The Killer
Inside Me is shocking. Its flat, spare writing fits noir style to a
tee, and adds impact to the brutality that leaps up every few pages to
jump-start your heart. I had read that Val Kilmer was interested in
it. For Kilmer fans, the notion of the "fifth meanest man in Hollywood"
playing Deputy Lou Ford is deliciously wicked; and, of course, The
actor's sultry blond looks are a perfect counterpoint to the dark
story. Thompson would approve. If your life's been a little too full of
sunshine and love lately, here's a cheap cure for that good-all-over
feeling.
Thompson Can Chew (and Swallow) Nails, April 18, 1997
Jim
Thompson wrote in a way that often let the good guy lose. He seemed to
revel in creating dusty, creaking facades of reality iin his work,
where one slight step on a floorboard sending you crashing through the
floor. "The Killer Inside Me," considered to be Jim Thompson’s
masterpiece, is the story of a twisted protagonist; a shady deal gone
awry; a concealed secret; and the moment of epiphany. Thompson’s
sparse, simplistic prose pulls the reader into a labyrinth of shifty
characters, underwritten surprises and enough (shocking) plot twists to
satisfy the most jaded of suspense readers. "The Killer Inside Me" is
impossible, to put down, once started. It is a refreshing change of
pace juxtaposed with the American ideal of happy endings.
Plumbs the psychotic imagination, March 24, 1997
In
"The Killer Inside Me", Jim Thompson displays his abilities to snake
down into the synapses of a psychopath. Thompson's insights into the
mind of Lou Ford should be the envy of every other crime novelist. Ford
makes his decisions to kill friends, lovers, and strangers (brutally)
with the same amount of ease and thought that most people put into
deciding to mow their lawns. Thompson doesn't try to be judgemental,
preachy, or over-blown crazy; he lays out the mind of a murderer as a
simple fact of a very twisted life.