Michael Fassbender, who hails from both Germany and Ireland, has built a reputation for delivering powerful performances across numerous films. Over the course of his career, he’s contributed to some truly remarkable productions such as “Shame,” “Inglorious Basterds,” and undeniably, the “X-Men” franchise. However, not all of Fassbender’s projects have been blockbuster hits or garnered critical praise. That doesn’t diminish their quality in any way. There is one film, an action thriller, that stands out as being particularly overlooked, despite the fact it’s based on a popular, long-running comic book series.
That title is The Killer, a Netflix Original that debuted back in 2023.
Slow, Realistic, and Subversive, The Killer Takes a Unique Approach to Hitman Movies
2023’s “The Killer” is a film masterfully directed by David Fincher, with a script penned by Andrew Kevin Walker. The main character, played by Michael Fassbender, embodies an unnamed assassin. This film is adapted from the comic “Le Tuer,” written by Matz Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon, which was originally titled as such in French. The story revolves around a hitman, delving into his past, sharing his perspectives on life and death, and confronting the fears that constantly shadow him. The narrative is uniquely told from the assassin’s perspective, offering insights into his thoughts, feelings, and the haunting phobias that accompany him. Drawing inspiration from Jean-Pierre Melville’s “Le Samouraï” and Alain Delon’s character, Jeff Costello, Fincher crafts a lead character bearing striking resemblances to both.
The movie isn’t another typical David Fincher production; it doesn’t attempt to replicate the intensity of “Fight Club” or “Seven”. Instead, it presents itself as a deliberate and suspenseful thriller. From the outset, we observe a hitman meticulously setting up for a sniper shot. For an extended period, there seems to be little action. We see Michael Fassbender’s character engaging in routine activities such as eating, exercising, and listening to The Smiths. There is an almost mechanical precision about him. When he botches the hit and embarks on a cross-country journey fueled by vengeance, we delve into his thought processes and work methods. He is a skilled assassin, yet deeply human.
In a departure from typical hitman movies filled with daring stunts and fantastical action sequences, Fincher’s “The Killer” eschews such conventions. Unlike blockbusters like John Wick, this film doesn’t aim to mimic them. Instead, it opens with the killer remarking, “It’s amazing how physically draining it can be to do nothing. If you can’t tolerate boredom, this line of work isn’t for you.” The film explores this monotony, the unattractive aspects of the profession, alongside the action. One potential criticism could be that it neglects character development, as we meet several characters but learn very little about them. However, the narrative primarily revolves around the killer’s quest for vengeance, and surprisingly, it holds its ground, even when motives remain unclear, as empathy is portrayed as a vulnerability in this world.
As a devoted cinephile, I found this movie to be remarkably innovative in its subversive and self-aware exploration of the genre’s conventions. The visual style is strikingly reminiscent of Fincher’s earlier masterpieces. What truly sets it apart, though, is its exceptional sound design – a layer of depth and intrigue that elevates every scene to new heights.
The film, released only recently, had its roots traced back to 2007 at Paramount Pictures and Plan B Entertainment. At that time, Alessandro Camon was tasked with scriptwriting. However, when the project moved to Netflix, Andrew Kevin Walker took over as writer from Camon. Michael Fassbender stars in it alongside Tilda Swinton, Sophie Charlotte, Kerry O’Malley, Arliss Howard, Sala Baker, and Charles Parnell. The movie hit theaters for a limited run in October 2023, before making its debut on Netflix on November 10, 2023. It initially premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2023.
All things considered, “The Killer” is an excellent fit within Fincher’s body of work as it showcases his exceptional knack for crafting stories and visually bringing narratives to life. At present, he is engaged in the production of a follow-up to the classic film, “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” Additionally, he is overseeing “Love, Death + Robots,” an animated sci-fi anthology series, with its fourth season premiering on May 15th.
The movie titled “The Killer” is available for streaming on Netflix. Meanwhile, you can catch the most recent Michael Fassbender film, “Black Bag,” on Amazon Prime Video.
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2025-06-14 19:40