Winterbottom justifies graphic violence

Michael Winterbottom has reportedly said his portrayal of graphic, prolonged scenes of violence allows audiences "space to think".

The director, who has been criticised for controversial scenes in The Killer Inside Me, said he wanted viewers to consider the "pointlessness" of the actions of psychopathic killer Lou Ford, played by Casey Affleck.

In an interview with The Guardian, he added: "I wanted to show that if you choose to kill someone by punching them, it's a long, slow, difficult process. Also, I want you to have the space to think about what's going on. Why is he doing this when he loves her? It's the pointlessness of it. That's the key thing - how pointless it is.

"These two women love him unconditionally. They offer him anything he wants, and he still kills them. We need to clarify - that is a total and utter waste. But there's tenderness, and frustrated tenderness. Joyce suspects him, but she forgives him."

Winterbottom earlier defended the film by saying he was trying to remain as faithful to the 1952 Jim Thompson pulp novel as possible.