The Killer review

THE KILLER: 

DAVID FINCHER AND MICHAEL FASSBENDER MAKE ONE “KILLER” MOVIE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

NETFLIX

Michael Fassbender in The Killer

 

            An unnamed assassin faces off against his employers (and himself) after a hit gone wrong in The Killer, the new film from David Fincher (Se7en, The Social Network, Gone Girl) and based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Alexis “Matz” Nolent. I have not read the graphic novels, nor did I even realize it was based on a comic until I saw the movie, so I have no idea how faithful it is to the source material. 

            Because of that, I will only be judging it as a film and from the perspective of someone who admires Fincher’s work. Alien 3 aside, I enjoyed pretty much every movie David Fincher directed with The Social Network being among my favorite movies, but this is more like a return to gritty Se7en, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone GirlFincher filmmaking…which I have no complaints about. 

            The Killer sees Fincher reunite with screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (8mm, Sleepy Hollow, The Wolfman(2010)) who had worked together on Se7en and stars Michael Fassbender (X-Men franchise, 12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs) as the titular killer. The film currently has a limited theatrical release and will drop on Netflix on November 10^thand whether you’re going out to the theater or streaming, this is a fantastic David Fincher movie that effectively follows in the footsteps of Se7en. 

            The film follows an unnamed killer (Fassbender) who gets embroiled in an international manhunt after a hit goes wrong. He targets his employers while also battling his own demons in a blood-soaked showdown that he swears isn’t personal. 

            The film also stars Arliss Howard (The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Moneyball, Mank) as The Client, Charles Parnell (The Venture Bros., All My Children, Top Gun: Maverick) as The Lawyer, Sala Baker (The Lord of the Ringstrilogy) as The Brute, Sophie Charlotte (Serra Pelada, Barata Ribeiro, 716, Passport to Freedom) as Magdala, Tilda Swinton (Adaptation, The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy, Marvel Cinematic Universe) as The Expert, Monique Ganderton (Chicago, The Cabin in the Woods, X-Men: Apocalypse) as The Dominatrix, and Jack Kessy (The Strain, 12 Strong, Deadpool 2) as The Salesman. 

            Overall, The Killer adds another engaging thriller to David Fincher’s filmography with a perfectly cast Michael Fassbender in the lead role. I’ve seen Fassbender give some incredible performances throughout his career, and this might be his absolute best. 

Fassbender in this movie honestly reminded me a lot of Ryan Gosling’s performance in Drive where he doesn’t speak much, but you get an idea of what this person is like through his facial expressions and actions. Though in this film, he does give a narration throughout the movie to progress the story so he’s not entirely silent. 

The plot is centered around Fassbender’s killer and him trying to finish the job which may be a turnoff point for those expecting a James Bond or John Wick-style action movie, it is definitely not that. There are some shootouts and even people getting killed in over-the-top ways, but it also takes a lot of time to let the characters breathe, set up future kills, and focus on the psychology of Fassbender’s character, some may find it boring I was invested all the way through. 

The action scenes are very exhilarating and phenomenally shot and edited with the highlight being this brutal fight between The Killer and The Brute in the latter’s home. It’s a gritty and brilliantly filmed sequence that constantly builds on top of itself going from fistfights to slashing with sharp objects and a shootout. 

Also, the scenes with The Killer interrogating someone and often result in the person he was interrogating being killed have a lot of tension behind them. There were even times where the film threw me off-guard when certain characters I thought weren’t going to die did end up dead by the end which goes back to The Killer’s rule of having no sympathy. 

The movie has an amazing soundtrack with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross in their fifth collaboration with Fincher following The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl, and Mank crafting yet another excellent musical score. But also, certain songs are utilized throughout the film that The Killer is listening to similar to Baby’s playlist from Baby Driver including a lot of songs by The Smiths, I was even bopping my head to them in my seat. 

I absolutely loved The Killer and strongly recommend seeking it out whether in theaters or on Netflix. It’s easily up there with Se7en, Fight Club, The Social Network, and Gone Girl as one of David Fincher’s finest as well as one of Michael Fassbender’s best performances, take the job and see for yourself.