Cold-Blooded Fincher
Movie Review – The Killer
Review by Ray Schillaci
Netflix presents director David Fincher’s (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac) latest slice of darkness from the heart, The Killer, fashioned like a noir thriller period piece in present day. He literally invites us into the mind of a sociopath hit man only known as The Killer, superbly portrayed by Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, X-Men: First Class, Steve Jobs). He is a man of many identities, many of which you will recognize and have fun with. Laced with only the bleakest sardonic humor, Fincher and company give this Hitchcockian tale a twist with a lead character we are not intended to like, but we end up impulsively concerned about this killer, his mission and whether or not he will survive it.
Even though this is a Netflix presentation it has also been released theatrically in selected theaters at the same time, giving die-hard Fincher fans a chance to witness the thrills on the big screen and, for those who do not subscribe to Netflix, a chance to catch the film without a long wait before it reaches streaming. At the same time, this brilliant ploy could easily lead more subscribers to Netflix with such a high-profile film with a big name director and star along with a majority of favorable reviews.
The Killer starts off with a slow, meticulous burn with the Killer narrating and demonstrating how monotonous his occupation is. We are privy to how careful and patient he must be throughout the whole process. We witness all of this before anything really happens, giving us a realistic and fascinating look into this man’s mind set.
He awaits patiently in an abandoned office directly across from his target. When and if his target will show up is anybody’s guess. It appears he’s been holed up there for a week or so with his liaison calling him and insisting it should happen soon and he cannot afford to screw up. Nothing like a little pressure along with sleep deprivation. He only steps away for a bite to eat and his observation of those around him is off-handedly funny, but then it’s right back up to business as usual.
The target finally arrives and goes up to his expensive hotel room. He has a maid greet him and an attractive woman. They’re in the way of the target. Our Killer narrates how he makes everything precise so that the hit is perfection. Furniture, other people in the room, window panes are temporary obstacles in his line of fire. The victim sits down on a cushy chair, the time is almost right. But the attractive woman steps in front and disrobes revealing a skimping black leather outfit. Killer awaits the precise moment her body moves and he can take the shot directly to the man’s forehead.
He seizes the opportunity and within a split second everything goes awry. Killer is caught unaware and we can tell this has never happened before. He cannot leave a trace, must change his appearance and escape while getting rid of his high-capacity rifle and everything that goes with it. Police surround the area and its a maximum race against time that gets our and his blood pumping.
From there, it turns into a shit show with the client unhappy, the liaison attempting to promise what’s not possible and Killer being informed how bad this is for both of them. Well, actually it turns out it’s not that bad for the liaison since it’s the Killer that receives the wrath of the client. His home is broken into, everything upended and his girlfriend nearly killed.
This is not Death Wish, Killer is very well known in the dark corners of the underworld. He has been known to make people disappear leaving no trace of them. He is going on the hunt to track down anybody and everybody that had anything to do with the break in and his girlfriend’s fate. This is also not John Wick, Killer is an extraordinary human being that can be hurt. His mind is his most dangerous tool. How he finds people and gets to them is remarkable and he makes it look so easy.
Michael Fassbender who was so deliberately eerie in Prometheus and brought so much angst and power as Magneto in the X-Men reboot nearly gives us an ice-cold version of James Bond. There is nothing debonair about his character and yet he grows on us as the film progresses with his insightful anecdotes and black humor. Even his monotone narration that is a throwback to the 1940s and ’50s, directly adding to the film noir experience is far more interesting and captivating than Harrison Ford’s famous narration in Blade Runner.
The Killer is not the best of David Fincher, but it still stands out as a great thriller with a different take on a hit man. It is both provocative and enticing with its imagery as with most of Fincher’s films. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross’s score is both creepy and keeps the adrenaline flowing fast. The cast is superb with Fassbender playing the bleakest character that is a bit of a anti-hero that we struggle to care for, but we cannot help fearing for him in situations. Viewing Fincher’s film one has to throw morality out the door otherwise you will struggle with it and not appreciate the artistry behind the master.
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Directed by: David Fincher
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Run Time: 118 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: U.S.
Distributor: Netflix
