A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Killer” (2023).
David Fincher is a film-maker who delivers new material relatively rarely. (His last feature was “Mank” in 2020 and then “Gone Girl” before that in 2014.) So a new Fincher movie is something to make you sit up and take note. Due to a stupid scheduling error on my part, I missed “The Killer” at the London Film Festival. But it is now available, with rather undue haste, on Netflix.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
The Killer (Michael Fassbinder) is a hired assassin. Sociopathic and impassive, he dispatches his targets, and anyone who gets in the way, without mercy. And he always cleans up after himself. But when a hit goes wrong in Paris, the tables are turned and the client wants a clean-up done.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong violence, bloody images, language, threat, sex references”).
Talent:
Starring: Michael Fassbinder, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Kerry O’Malley, Sala Baker.
Directed by: David Fincher.
Written by: Alexis Nolent, Luc Jacamon & Andrew Kevin Walker.
Twitter Handle: #thekillermovie.
Running Time: 1h 58m.
‘Rear Window’ reimagined. Michael Fassbender as the impassive “Killer”. (Source: Netflix).
“The Killer” Review:
Positives:
- This is undoubtedly a high-class film, expertly made and always highly watchable. The opening scenes reminded me very much of Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”: Fassbender’s character progressively scanning the windows across the way; the old man closing the curtains; the doorman of the apartment about his work; the couple having sex.
- The cinematography (by Erik Messerschmidt) is suitably impressive with some great angles and superb lighting.
- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross again provide an intriguing soundtrack. There are moments (e.g. during the Florida ‘hit’) where you hear a weird metallic noise and you think “what was that?”. Then it comes again and you realise it’s a part of a rising track! (Should a soundtrack be a distraction? Perhaps not, but it’s impressive nevertheless.)
- There are welcome moments of black comedy included in the script. “Need any help moving the body” an office worker jokes in a lift as The Killer stands with a large wheely-bin…. with a body in it! In another scene, The Killer is battling with ‘The Brute’ (Sala Baker). Trapped in a kitchen, he reaches above him into a kitchen draw… and pulls out a cheese grater! It’s a scene that a Bond film would be proud of.
Negatives:
- I don’t want to be rude to the writers, but the story is a bit simplistic and linear….. little more than a revenge movie… rinse and repeat.
- Is the character of ‘The Killer’ likeable? Do you root for him? No, absolutely not. There are some of his targets – taxi-driver Leo (Gabriel Polanco) being a particular example – that made me very cross. What did they do wrong, other than cross his path? (Although, to be fair, he does comment that people should hope that they don’t cross paths with him!) In this context, did the actions in the finale make sense? No, I think not.
- Regular readers of this blog will know that I have certain bugbears in movies. And one of the biggest is ‘voiceovers’. Here, Fincher batters us with a veritable barrage of voiceover. Like diarrhoea, Fassbender drones away, in a flat and dull monotone, giving us his internal thoughts. (“Stick to the plan. Anticipate don’t improvise”.) On and on and on and on he goes. Fassbender is such a good actor, that most of the time you just don’t need it – you can read the words on his face.
Little more than an extended cameo, but Tilda Swinton makes an impression. (Source: Netflix)
Summary Thoughts on “The Killer”
It’s not one of Fincher’s best in my opinion. Some, I know, find it dull. (“If you’re unable to endure boredom, this work is not for you.” – LOL!). But, for me, even a Fincher off-day still makes you appreciate the quality of the film-making.
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Trailer for “The Killer”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1epO_zLG8 .
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