Instinto Homicida

Lou Ford is the Deputy Sheriff of a small mining town of Central City Texas. He's one friendly, well-respected man of the community, who doesn't believe carrying around a gun in a well-balanced town. Though there's another side to Lou that no one else knows about. He has a past-inflicted schizophrenic trait, which causes him to snap when pushed by a hooker Joyce Lakeland.

After watching director Burt Kennedy's obscured potboiler "Wolf Lake" not too long ago, he surprised me again with this curiously hypnotic psycho-thriller. Adapted from the novel of Jim Thompson, this diluted psychological study focus on a fatigue mind cracking under the insanity of something that's just too troubling to conceal without simply leading to dangerous lash-outs. The way Kennedy leisurely paces the opening half of the film is there to build upon that genuine feel created between Keach's character and the townsfolk. That when the sudden change in character and appearance takes hold, it has manipulated us into like everyone else that his character couldn't do a thing like that. The well-devised plot (which has a noir touch and a quietly disturbing streak within it) keeps an unpredictable rhythm about it and that also could be put down to Stacy Keach's blindingly full-rounded performance as the shadily relaxed and soft spoken town Sheriff Lou Ford. He manages to demonstrate a moodily emotional attachment to this troubled soul that becomes horrifyingly more chilling as the film goes on. This goes for how things seem to fall into place with a little help in making sure they do so. The story falls more into the mould of a character builder, organising and analysing its true intentions and dark insight than an all-out thriller looking for a jolt every couple minutes. For a small budget, Kennedy's direction is reliably accomplished along with William Fraker's vigorously grounded cinematography. Cooked up was a misguidedly, piercing tuneful sounding music score by Tim McIntire and John Rubinstein. Stacy Keach was terrific, but the supporting cast were just as good. A vivid Susan Tyrell (who was with Keach in "Fat City (1972)") added a scorning touch to her hooker Joyce. Don Stroud is fitting as the Mayor's loutish son Elmer. Tisha Sterling is sweetly likable as Ford's lady Amy Stanton. Keenan Wynn and John Carradine (in an entertaining small role) are solid in their parts.

An interestingly dark and well-written item with prominent performances (Keach and Tyrell), although its far from gob-smacking. Actually it has made me more interested in reading the book.

This obscure expose of insanity stars Stacy Keach as a small town sheriff with a penchant for murder. Rather than being a film about an insane madman, The Killer Inside Me focuses more on the psychological elements of insanity, and thereby provides a murderous movie with a hint of some brains behind it. The film is well written and the plot, while slow, remains interesting and engaging almost throughout. However, the plot does become a bit too slow at times, and despite a well timed performance from Stacy Keach, The Killer Inside Me sometimes becomes a little too slow and the film ultimately suffers because of it. The film is based on a book by Jim Thompson. I've never read the book that the film is based on, but the plot follows a small time sheriff who discovers that he has a murderous urge inside of him after the arrival of a prostitute upsets the balance between him and his childhood sweetheart. The sheriff then goes from all round nice law enforcement guy to brutal, cold-blooded killer as he murders his way through anyone that stands in his way.

The problem with the plot is really highlighted by the fact that it takes so long to get to the first murder. The film takes time to build the central character, thus making it more shocking once his schizophrenia does finally show through - but the build up to it is too slow, and that's not good when a film is claiming itself to be a 'thriller'. The Killer Inside Me also has a 'made for TV' aura about it. As far as I know, it wasn't made for TV; but the way that everything is very subdued and the support acting is nothing special gives it that sort of impression. The film really is held together by Stacy Keach, who gives it his all in the lead role. This actor really is underrated, as he often turns in memorable and assured performances, yet the cult star never gets the recognition he deserves. John Carradine is the only stand-out name from the rest of the cast, and he makes an appearance that is little more than a cameo. On the whole, as this film is rather obscure; I really can't see the point in purposely seeking it out. The Killer Inside Me is worth a watch if you do happen to stumble across a copy, but it's not a tragedy to miss it.

Yes, this was the original that sparked off the not so good and badly favored remake, that we didn't really need, though personally, I'm glad we got. Is this one better? What do you think. Yes. Of course. Like Affleck who was amazing in the remake, Keach gives another individualized performance of excellence like to Afleck's, which again is riveting and compelling, as a reason to watch. But Keach also is matched by Susan Tyrell, looking her sexiest and is so darn cute here, in the role as the white trashy harlot (Alba's in the remake). The plot is basically the same with unbalanced cop, but all psycho ness aside (my own word there) is forced to kill, backed into a corner when blackmailed, by you know who. Don Stroud, one of the great 70's actors, is just well.... great and fun too, as rowdy and not too bright, love struck dummy, Elmore, who does has feelings, not so really, when getting smashed over the head with a bottle, by an offended party. This movie is so beautifully and well shot, and made, with music to suit. One too will judge the difference in the standard of violence and the rating system, to nowadays, where the MA remake was much bloodier than the limited gore in this R pic. It's crazy. There's some really confining moments of terror, we get off Keach, but there's not really any shocks or surprises, but the ending that ensued, sucked, a real, downfall of ordinary, and was Tyrell an apparition at the end? You decide.

Based on one of Jim Thompson's best novels, this sleeper went largely unnoticed in the mid-70's despite an excellent lead performance by Stacy Keach as Lou Ford, mild-mannered Montana deputy-sheriff whom everybody in the small town of Central City likes. An upcoming election, angry miners, and a hooker on the edge of town stir up trouble within the town and Keach.

The relationship between Keach and Susan Tyrrell as the hooker is one of the more intriguing cinematic couplings, made even more so in light of their recent work as a pair of drunks in Huston's "Fat City". Their actions are anything but predictable. Western-vet Burt Kennedy handles the direction chores ably, though the film is obviously constricted by a low-budget. Location work helps, and cinematographer William Fraker captures some nice "big sky" shots. However, several other scenes are poorly lit, with one straining to find the principals in the darkness and shadows. Considering the pro background of Kennedy and Fraker, I wonder if this was a comment on the characters' dark, shadowy personalities ... Another minor complaint is the music score, which seems wrong and intrusive at times.

The film has several veteran character actors, among them Royal Dano, John Carradine (in a nice scene with Keach toward the end), John Dehner, and Keenan Wynn. Best of all though is Don Stroud as Elmer, perhaps his quintessential beer-swilling, hot-headed, good ol' boy role. He balances his character's violent tendencies with a fair degree of bawdy humor (some would seem to be improvised), and would simply walk away with the picture if it were not for Keach being so strong and interesting in the lead. Certainly worth a look for the performances and subject matter.

I did not expect anything like this from director Burt Kennedy, who used us more with comedy westerns, more or less in the Andrew McLaglen's style, than to this kind of stuff. I know that in the early sixties he gave us the magnificent MONEY TRAP, another surprising crime film from a director like him, starrring Glenn Ford and Elke Sommer. So this one is also a crime drama, but totally different from MONEY TRAP though. It is adapted from a Jim Thompson's novel. I have never read the book, so I won't tell if this film is faithful or not to the genuine material. But if you like borderline, rotten cops tales; psychotic, sadistic police officers or sheriffs, this movie is for you. Definitely.