Parents' Guide to

The Killer Inside Me

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Dark thriller centers on brutal violence against women.

Movie R 2010 108 minutes
The Killer Inside Me Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

GSN
GSN Adult
July 27, 2018
age 18+

Vile

This movie.... not recommeded for anyone with highly moral values, it is gross and insane, not good for adults or children to watch at all!
MovieMan26
MovieMan26 Adult
October 9, 2010
age 17+

Horrid, and definitely not for kids

Gross and horrific, and that's the Bottom Line. Thanks for reading, and sorry for the negativity - Movie Man

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) is a deputy sheriff living in a small West Texas town in the 1950s. After he's sent to investigate a girl who's thought to be a prostitute, Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba), he winds up beginning a sexual relationship with her ... and then plots to kill her boyfriend, the son of the town's wealthiest and most powerful citizen. This leads to a second murder, a false accusation, blackmail, and more murders. As his sociopathic side begins to manifest itself with increasing brutality, Lou has a more and more difficult time convincing his girlfriend, Amy (Kate Hudson); the district attorney (Simon Baker); and a local union leader (Elias Koteas) that he's innocent.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (3 ):

The biggest issue with THE KILLER INSIDE ME is its controversial scenes of violence against women, which are highly disturbing and not at all easy to watch (and not for kids). But for mature viewers who can get past them, Affleck's Lou Ford is a fascinating character, and it's interesting to watch his mental and emotional journey. It's even possible to root for him to find some sort of inner peace.

Director Michael Winterbottom (A Mighty Heart, 24 Hour Party People) is known mainly for his heavy message movies, but he occasionally makes interesting, smart forays into other genres, and this is one of them. The movie is moody and stylish, and it develops a strong sense of place and tone to support the dark characters. It doesn't quite have the shocking punch that Jim Thompson's original 1952 novel had, but it's an intriguing effort.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the film's brutal violence. How did it make you feel? How does it compare to the more explosive violence seen in many action movies? Which has more impact? Why?

  • How does the movie depict sex? How is it connected to the violence in the film? What message does that send to audiences?

  • How does making the killer the main character make you feel about him? Is he the "hero"? Does the story work the same way as if a different person had been the hero?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate