The highly hyped adaptation of Jim Thompson's novel about a small town sheriff (Casey Affleck) who's secretly a psychotic killer swiftly bagged a distribution deal after being screened at Sundance... despite having some audience members blanching.

Its depictions of graphic violence against women (Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba both garnered backslaps for their performances here) caused a few gasps at the screenings, but most thought Michael Winterbottom's film oozed noir class.