Michael Winterbottom's controversially violent and gratuitous film, The Killer Inside Me, was picked up early this morning by IFC Films for approximately $1.5 million for U.S. distribution. The film, based on a Jim Thompson novel and a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, stars Casey Affleck as a deputy sheriff in Texas that is revealed to have a twisted and murderous tendency. Flick also stars Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Simon Baker, Elias Koteas, and Bill Pullman.
The Killer Inside Me recently screened at Sundance, and as the article notes, marks the second movie that IFC Films has picked up recently that has a controversial reputation. Last year, they purchase distribution rights for Lar Von Trier's Antichrist. IFC Films plans for a summer release of the Winterbottom film in theaters and on their VOD service.
UPDATE: We've been sent over a press release about the purchase from IFC. Hit the jump to read it:
IFC FILMS ACQUIRES U.S. RIGHTS TO MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM'S "THE KILLER INSIDE ME" STARRING CASEY AFFLECK, JESSICA ALBA AND KATE HUDSON
Premiered Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Premiere Section; Also in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival in February
Park City, UT (January 30, 2010) - IFC Films, one of the leading American distributors of independent and foreign films, announced today at the Sundance Film Festival it is acquiring U.S. distribution rights to Michael Winterbottom's THE KILLER INSIDE ME. Since its premiere on Sunday, it has become the most provocative and discussed films at this year's festival. Based on the novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, THE KILLER INSIDE ME stars Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman, from a script by John Curran. It is Winterbottom's first foray into pure American cinema. The film is a Hero Entertainment presentation of a Stone Canyon, Muse, Revolution production in association with Wild Bunch, Curiously Bright Entertainment and Indion Entertainment Group. It was produced by Chris Hanely, Bradford L. Schlei, Andrew Eaton and executive produced by Jordan Gertner and Lily Bright.
THE KILLER INSIDE ME will next be screened in competition at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
The deal for THE KILLER INSIDE ME was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Production for IFC Films, with Graham Taylor of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Carole Baraton of Wild Bunch. Wild Bunch is also a co-producer on the film and handling all International Distribution.
The deal marks the second time IFC Films has worked with Winterbottom and Eaton's Revolution Films. This February, IFC Films is releasing the highly anticipated THE RED RIDING TRILOGY, a fictionalized account of the investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper.
THE KILLER INSIDE ME tells the story of handsome, charming, unassuming small town sheriff's deputy named Lou Ford (Casey Affleck). The film takes place in an idyllic West Texas town in the early 1950's. As a lifelong resident, Ford has difficulty juggling his long-term girlfriend Amy (Kate Hudson), the prostitute named Joyce (Jessica Alba) that he mistakenly falls for, and the sociopathic tendencies inside him. In Thompson's savage, bleak, blacker than noir universe nothing is ever what it seems.
Michael Winterbottom is a prolific filmmaker who has directed sixteen films in the past thirteen years. He began his career working in British television before moving into features. Three of his films - WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, WONDERLAND and 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE - have been in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed the socially conscious films IN THIS WORLD, WELCOME TO GUANTANAMO and A MIGHTY HEART starring Angelina Jolie. Winterbottom's most recent film, THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, a documentary adaptation of the acclaimed book by Naomi Klein, also premiered at this year's festival and is currently available nationwide on video-on-demand via Sundance Selects.
Jonathan Sehring, President, IFC Entertainment said, "Since it premiered at Sundance on Sunday, we haven't been able to stop talking or thinking about THE KILLER INSIDE ME. It is a stylish work of cinema by one of its great directors, with an incredible cast. We are incredibly excited to be working with Michael and Andrew Eaton again and we look forward to bringing this film to America via our theatrical and video-on-demand platforms."