David Fincher is back in his element, Michael Fassbender is back
(taking a break from his racing career), and now we have “The Killer” - a dark and
slick thriller featuring a protagonist of, let’s just say, highly questionable morals.
Welcome back, David Fincher.
The Killer, played by Michael Fassbender, is an assassin for hire, calmly going about his work.
He has many names in this film, but his real name remains unknown.
He goes about his tasks following a detailed set
of rules and precautions that he has set for himself, and he really is a
coldly flawless killing machine until something doesn’t go according to plan.
To say that I was excited for this movie is an understatement.
David Fincher is one of my favorite directors.
I have two videos covering his entire career, reviewing and ranking every film he has made,
if you’re curious, and I will always watch whatever he creates.
So, did I enjoy “The Killer”? Absolutely, of course I did.
But is it one of Fincher’s best? I wouldn’t say so.
Listen, if you’re a fan of the director and his style - this movie feels like coming home.
A lot of it is very calm and measured, though it never loses that underlying
sense of tension and danger that’s present in most of Fincher’s movies.
But because he doesn’t overwhelm you with action and crazy pacing,
you really can just sit there and enjoy the director’s beautiful work.
Honestly, and this is going to sound very strange if you haven’t seen the film,
but there is something about it that I found to be oddly comforting,
and hopefully when you watch it you’ll understand what I mean.
Part of it is that it just feels like it’s good to be back: here’s a cool
title sequence (though it’s surprisingly short), here’s the beautiful lighting,
here’s the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score, here’s the striking cinematography…
But there’s also something about the tone and the pacing here that feels almost soothing.
Now, I don’t want to give you the wrong idea: at no point does it
seem like the protagonist is a nice guy you should root for.
This is not a romanticized view of an assassin,
he is not some misunderstood, brooding misfit with a conscience.
No. He kills people.
“Forbid empathy” is part of his mantra.
Nothing about this is “cool”.
What you’re watching is a hitman’s day at the office going sideways,
and he is doing his best to continue with his measured, meticulous, methodical routine,
which also means he will stop at nothing until he achieves his goal.
We are constantly in his head, listening to his inner monologue, and it is not a
warm or cozy place to be: we learn about his routine, about his work ethic, his beliefs,
about how he perceives the world around him and how he sees himself as a part of this world.
But this is the mind of a calculated killer, and even though there is still something human about
him, as we eventually find out, his day-to-day is numbers, targets, facts, goals, cleanup.
He has a plan and he’s going to stick to it,
so you better hope you don’t accidentally end up in his way while you’re checking the mail.
And yes, this does seem very grounded and mundane, which is interesting because mundane,
casual evil really seems to be a theme in movies this year.
Fincher himself said, “My hope is that if the movie affects people
they start to question who’s in line behind them at Home Depot.”
Thanks for that, David. Thank you.
When it comes to style - there’s definitely some Hitchcock to this film, particularly
“Rear Window”, and of course “The Killer” wears its “Le Samouraï” influences on its sleeve.
But at some points I was even reminded of Linklater a little bit - there is
very much a slice-of-life quality to this thriller, it’s kind of a “vibe” movie.
Is a merciless killer the type of person you want to vibe with?
Not particularly.
But it is interesting: his code, his mindset - I certainly could not look away.
“I think people are perverts”
The point is, we’re following this guy on his quest, as he goes from one location to another,
but as he has those one-on-one interactions with the people he’s on a mission to pay a visit to,
we see how differently those interactions unfold,
how differently people react when faced with imminent death.
And of course, Michael Fassbender is perfect in this role.
What a comeback!
I really hope he continues to make movies,
even though he’s clearly very selective about his projects these days.
And speaking of the cast, I have to mention Tilda Swinton, whom I adore,
and unsurprisingly she is also fantastic here.
She doesn’t have a huge role, but it’s certainly a very memorable one,
and honestly if her role was bigger - she would have stolen the entire film.
On a different note, there’s something about “The Killer” that feels very personal
to Fincher because he is known for being a perfectionist and a director with a very precise,
particular vision, so it’s understandable why he was drawn to a character like this,
someone with a specific set of rules, with a code,
and someone trying to maintain all of that when faced with an unexpected challenge.
Fincher’s personality also comes through in the movie’s humor,
which I found to be very well-placed.
It’s that kind of perfectly dark,
dry humor that relieves the tension when it’s necessary, and just lands every time.
Easily one of his funniest films, if not the funniest.
But don’t think that because “The Killer” is a pretty restrained,
measured experience with an occasional sense of humor it’s somehow a boring or lackluster movie.
As I mentioned earlier, there is an underlying layer of tension to all of this and when
Fincher wants to crank up the intensity - he does this effortlessly and effectively.
When the violence is there - it’s quick and merciless, and I definitely gasped a few times.
Plus, there is one particularly fantastic
action scene that really reminds you how relentless Fincher can be as a filmmaker.
I will say, initially I felt a little underwhelmed because I did want more from this movie - it
definitely settles into a pattern, and the ending feels a little bit anticlimactic.
But also, this movie has been sitting really well with me,
and I can easily see myself rewatching it, after I rewatch all of my favorite Fincher movies.
Of course, it looks great - it’s dark, moody, and beautifully lit.
Fassbender’s return to the big screen is very satisfying,
as he perfectly fits this character - carries himself in a way that
feels so removed from everything and everyone, shutting down his humanity.
He feels cold, with no room for empathy, but there’s also definitely an element of
a façade to all of this, and it’s interesting to watch how he’s able to compartmentalize and
separate whatever feelings he has left from his life as an assassin.
It is a very chill movie, but the tension is always there, underneath the surface,
with Fincher patiently waiting to escalate things. And he does.
While it probably won’t be your favorite film that he’s ever made,
I think the fans are still going to get a lot of what they were hoping for. I certainly did.
And if you want to know how I feel about the rest
of David Fincher’s filmography - you shouldcheck out these videos next.