By Em Helena
| Published
Under the guidance of esteemed director David Fincher, Netflix’s 2023 crime thriller The Killer takes an unexpected turn from what we expect from the hitman genre.
Inspired by Alexis “Matz” Nolent’s graphic novel series, The Killer follows the story of an unnamed assassin and his search for retribution. The film features multiple famous Hollywood talents such as Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, and Charles Parnell.
Michael Fassbender Is A Hitman Out For Revenge
After accidentally killing an innocent bystander while on a hit mission, the unnamed assassin, played by Michael Fassbender, is now forced to face the consequences of his actions on a personal level. When his girlfriend is nearly assassinated in retaliation to his mistake, the anonymous hitman embarks on a worldwide mission inspired by revenge and retirement.
What sets The Killer apart from most hitman movies is the fact that it starts out as what you would expect from an action movie and then dramatically slows down, honing in on the assassin’s methodology. Also, there isn’t much to really like about the main character, he has no empathy, and nearly no redeeming qualities, putting him in stark contrast to previous hitman protagonists. He is cold, he is uncaring, and the audience is made readily aware of that throughout the film.
Another David Fincher Hit
Released on Netflix in November 2023, The Killer received high praise. With an audience score of 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes it is clear that David Fincher has, once again, successfully risen to the challenge. With previous titles such as Fight Club, Gone Girl, and Zodiac under his belt, it’s no surprise that he has mastered the thriller genre.
Along with audience popularity, The Killer also received high praise from the Hollywood film circuit. Nominated for several awards and securing the Premio Soundtrack Stars Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Fincher’s new dark take in the Bond-saturated hitman genre has been popular with most audiences.
Although The Killer is an adaptation of Nolent’s graphic novel series, David Fincher still came to set with his own inspirations. It is rumored that Fincher’s inspiration behind the main character was the common misinterpretation of his film Fight Club. The unnamed assassin is someone who would believe that Tyler Durden is a good person and would be inspired by and find solace in his actions.
Despite an overwhelmingly positive response to the film, some critics disagreed with the movie’s direction. Manhola Dargis, in a review for The New York Times, called the main protagonist “ loquaciously dull” and further elaborated that The Killer was just a way for David Fincher to kill time. For Dargis, much was left to be desired from the title.
The Killer is currently available to stream on Netflix and clocks in a run time of 119 minutes. If you are a fan of David Fincher or a hitman fanatic, this movie will most certainly jump into your top favorites list. If you are new to these worlds, congratulations! Come into it with an open heart and prepare to have your mind blown.
