“Probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered,” boasts the cover of pretty much every copy of Jim Thompson’s controversial novel. The quote comes from Stanley Kubrick and whilst I did find the first-person account genuinely unsettling at times, I wouldn't rave about it as much as he did (though it still is very good).
Arguments have stemmed with regards to both the book and it’s recent 2010 film adaptation in terms of its violence, especially concerning the violence directed at women. Whilst I don’t condone the nature of these chapters (and can imagine that they’ll be very difficult to watch on film) they do what they’re supposed to do: make the reader feel physically repulsed. The casual nature of the narrative is, as Kubrick said, quite chilling and the sharp bursts of misogyny from a man who eventually goes on to explain his general hatred for women are shocking and horrid. Coupled with the fact that much of the rest of the violence our protagonist commits is never really dwelled upon in nearly as much detail makes those moments of misogyny all the more repugnant. Did I like them? No. I find them somewhat problematic and in light of the new film, the debate on their necessity will be a long drawn out affair.
The unfortunate thing is that these moments overshadow the rest of the narrative, which, by all accounts, is a well thought out and very compelling noir novel. It’s brief at only 220 pages but as Lou Ford’s situation worsens the dread permeates throughout. Especially after the protracted scenes of violence, the fact that he is the narrator does nothing the stem the readers’ hatred for a man as despicable as he.
Had it not been so misogynistic, I probably would’ve enjoyed it a hell of a lot more. I just can’t find any reason for those chapters other than to shock.
4/5
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