Josh Reviews The Killer

David Fincher’s The Killer stars Michael Fassbender as the unnamed killer, a hitman for hire who is extremely professional and methodical.  And yet his carefully constructed existence is upended when an assassination goes wrong and the killer finds himself the target of those who ordered the hit.  So he decides to go on the offensive.

I’ve been a huge fan of David Fincher’s ever since way back to Alien 3, a film that is deeply flawed but that I recognized (even at the time before I heard about all the behind the scenes drama) was well made.  I think Mr. Fincher’s 2007 film Zodiac is his masterpiece, with The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button not far behind.  I’m always excited for a new David Fincher film, and The Killer did not disappoint.

On the surface, one might say this film is slight.  It’s got a relatively short run-time (under two hours) and a relatively simple story (hit goes wrong and hit-man faces the consequences).  But Mr. Fincher uses both to his advantage, crafting a lean and mean film, with a propulsive narrative that had me hooked from the first minute to the last.

The film is exquisitely made, from top to bottom.  It’s gorgeous and gripping.  Mr. Fincher’s complete mastery of tone keeps this tense, taut thriller perfectly balanced.  It’s violent and upsetting at moments, and darkly funny at others; those tones don’t clash but rather fit together seamlessly.  Erik Messerschmidt’s cinematography is gorgeous, with sumptuous colors and a beautiful use of darkness and light.

The film as patient as its title character.  As the opening sequence went on… and on (as we wait with the killer for his target to arrive at the apartment across the street), I was blown away by the audaciousness of how the movie puts us right in the killer’s shoes as we wait, with increasing tension, for something to happen.  It’s incredible.

Michael Fassbender is extraordinary in the title role.  He’s magnetic enough to hold our attention throughout the film, even though we’re often watching him do very little.  And yet, at the same time, he’s believable as someone who has cultivated the ability to blend in and be unnoticeable.  He’s compelling and also very scary in his dead-eyed coldness.  It’s a terrific performance.

The film is adapted from the French graphic novel series written by Alexis “Matz” Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon.  I recently read a huge collection of the series, and it’s very enjoyable.  The film is a loose adaptation of the first major storyline in the comics, though Mr. Fincher and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (who wrote Mr. Fincher’s Seven) have taken a lot of liberties to make the film their own.  For the most part, I like their changes.  A more direct adaptation of The Killer would likely have been a lot of fun; at the same time, I like how Mr. Fincher and Mr. Walker used the template of the comic book series as the basis for this story of their own.  The film starts off much like the comic — most notably by utilizing the main character’s lengthy internal monologue, which I hadn’t expected to see in the film adaptation but was delighted they used — but it quickly diverges, as in the comic the killer succeeds in that first hit, while in the film he doesn’t, which sets the two stories off on different tracks.

This is a dark film, and I respected how Mr. Fincher and Mr. Walker chose to never allow the audience to sympathize too heavily with Michael Fassbender’s main character.  There have been lots of great movies in which we the audience have rooted for the bad guy.  It’s natural in a story like this when an immoral person is the main character.  And yet here in this film, any time we the audience might start to build some sympathy for the killer, the film reminds us that he’s a violent, amoral fellow.  (At least up until the intriguingly ambiguous ending, which surprised me with the choice that the killer makes.)

I liked the film’s use of chapter titles, which give a useful structure to a story that might, in lesser hands, have felt too episodic.

Tilda Swinton is spectacular in her short but pivotal appearance towards the end of the film.  Wow does she command the screen every inch as well as does Mr. Fassbender!!  I loved watching the battle of wills between the two.  I also enjoyed seeing Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One) as the killer’s lawyer/agent, with whom he’s now at odds.

This is a great film!  Once again David Fincher has crafted a riveting and dark story that I found extremely compelling.  I was hooked from start to finish.  Don’t miss this one.

Please support my website by clicking through one of our Amazon links the next time you need to shop!  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  That means I’ll receive a small percentage from any product you purchase from Amazon within 24 hours after clicking through.  Thank you!