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The Killer (2023 film)

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The Killer
Release poster
Directed byDavid Fincher
Screenplay byAndrew Kevin Walker
Based on
The Killer
by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyErik Messerschmidt
Edited byKirk Baxter
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03) (Venice)
  • October 27, 2023 (2023-10-27) (United States)
  • November 10, 2023 (2023-11-10) (Netflix)
Running time
118 minutes[3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$452,208 [4]

The Killer is a 2023 American action thriller film[3] directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker. It is based on the French graphic novel series The Killer written by Alexis "Matz" Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon.[5] The film stars Michael Fassbender in the title role, alongside Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O'Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton in supporting roles. It follows the titular assassin as he embarks on an international vendetta after a hit goes wrong.

Development on the graphic novel adaptation began in 2007 at Paramount Pictures and Plan B Entertainment, with Fincher signed on as director and Alessandro Camon as screenwriter. In 2021, Fincher later moved the project over to Netflix with Andrew Kevin Walker replacing Camon as writer.

The Killer premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2023.[6] It received a limited theatrical release on October 27, 2023; it began streaming on Netflix on November 10, 2023. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Chapter 1

An unnamed professional assassin (credited as "The Killer") stakes out a Parisian hotel room. He prepares to use a sniper rifle to kill a target who will check into the hotel room at an unspecified time. While waiting for the target over a week, he eats, practices yoga, listens to The Smiths, and talks on the phone with his handler, an attorney and his former university law professor, Edward "Eddie" Hodges. The Killer narrates these activities, stressing the mantra of his rules and the routine—even boring—nature of his job and how his cynicism and lack of empathy are beneficial for his chosen occupation, all while growing increasingly sleep-deprived. The target eventually arrives in the company of a dominatrix. The Killer misses his target, accidentally shooting the dominatrix. He flees on an e-scooter, successfully evading the police and disposing his rifle and gear. He then flies to the United States under one of numerous fake identities.

Chapter 2

The Killer returns to his lavish compound in the Dominican Republic to find it has been broken into and his romantic partner Magdala has been attacked. The Killer finds her in an intensive care unit of a hospital, with her brother Marcus watching over her. He learns Magdala was interrogated and tortured by two assassins but managed to injure one of them and escape. He tracks down the taxi driver, Leo, who drove the assassins to the Killer's home. Leo identifies a man with an injured leg, whom he called "The Brute", and a woman who "resembled a Q-Tip". The Killer shoots and kills Leo, leaving his body in his taxi, and, breaking his "Fight only the battle you're paid to fight" rule, seeks to track down the two assassins.

Chapter 3

The Killer travels to Hodges' office in New Orleans, Louisiana, and gains entry to the building disguised as a custodial worker. He restrains Hodges' secretary and fellow handler Dolores, destroying the electronic records of their work together. As Hodges attempts to deescalate the situation, The Killer shoots him in the chest with a nail gun in an attempt to torture the names of the hitmen out of him, but Hodges denies to tell the names and dies quicker than The Killer anticipated, aspirating his own blood. Dolores offers to show The Killer the assassins' identities in her personal paper files in her home, asking in return that The Killer give her a quick and non-suspicious death so her children can claim the life insurance payout. After receiving the names at her home, The Killer breaks his rule not to show empathy and breaks her neck and she falls down a flight of stairs, making the fall look like an accident.

Chapter 4

The Killer drives to St. Petersburg, Florida, identifying The Brute by his limp. After drugging his pit-bull, The Killer enters his house to kill him, only to be tackled and have to engage in a lengthy fight with the assassin, before shooting him and fleeing from his reawakened dog, burning down his home with a Molotov cocktail.

Chapter 5

The Killer travels to Beacon, New York, where he confronts The Expert "Q-Tip" assassin in a gourmet restaurant. Appearing to accept her fate, The Expert questions The Killer's motivations in continuing and lessening competency at his profession, as they partake in her "last supper" of whiskey. Proceeding outside to the park, he shoots her dead after she trips and asks for a hand, before noticing her concealed knife.

Chapter 6

The Killer finally travels to Chicago, where the client, billionaire venture capitalist Henderson "Clay" Claybourne, lives in an upscale penthouse. The Killer transfers the entirety of his finances to the Dominican Republic under the name Jefferson and observes Claybourne's routine, using inexpensive tools purchased on Amazon to clone his keycard and circumvent building security. The Killer confronts Claybourne at gunpoint in his penthouse, asking him if he ordered the retaliatory hit out of personal grievance. Claybourne claims that he has no personal problem with him and, as a first-time client of a hitman, agreed to pay Hodges for "the trail to be scrubbed". Noting his general indifference and having had no specific idea in mind as to why an assassin would come after him, The Killer spares Claybourne, though promising him a "slow death" if Claybourne ever comes for him.

Later, The Killer returns to the Dominican Republic and settles next to a recovering Magdala.

Cast

Production

Development

In November 2007, it was reported that David Fincher would be directing an adaptation of the Matz French comic book The Killer, with Allesandro Camon writing the script, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment producing, and Paramount Pictures distributing.[7] By February 2021, Fincher had taken the project to Netflix, where he had signed an overall deal, with Andrew Kevin Walker now writing the script and Michael Fassbender circling the lead role.[5] By June, it was reported that Fincher was planning to begin filming in November 2021 in Paris, with cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt.[8] Tilda Swinton joined the cast in October.[9]

Filming

Principal photography began in November 2021 in Paris.[10] It continued in the Dominican Republic in December 2021, then moved to New Orleans later that month. It moved again to Chicago in February 2022,[11] and then to St. Charles, Illinois (doubling for suburban Beacon, New York), in March 2022 for ten days, wrapping later that month.[12][13]

Music

Main article: The Killer (soundtrack)

In February 2023, it was reported that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were composing for the film.[14] It was confirmed in September 2023 that the soundtrack would mainly feature songs from English rock band the Smiths.[15]

Release

The Killer premiered in-competition at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2023.[6] It was picked up for a surprise screening at the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival set for September 30, 2023.[16] It was also screened at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the "Icon" section on October 6, 2023.[17]

The film began a limited theatrical release on October 27, 2023, via Netflix, before streaming on the platform on November 10, 2023.[18]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 262 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Killer finds director David Fincher on firm footing with a stylish and engaging thriller that proves a perfect match for leading man Michael Fassbender."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 58 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20]

Terming it a "horribly addictive samurai procedural," Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that the film is "entertainingly absurd and yet the pure conviction and deadpan focus that Fassbender and Fincher bring to this ballet of anonymous professionalism makes it very enjoyable."[21] IndieWire's Ryan Lattanzio found it "as unfeeling as any Fincher thriller, at once predictable in its simplicity but also strangely daring because of it".[22]

The New York Times was less positive, with Manohla Dargis unmoved by character and plot but nonetheless impressed by the talents of Fincher and Fassbender. "The character is boring and so is this movie, but like the supremely skilled Fincher, who can't help but make images that hold your gaze even as your mind wanders, Fassbender does keep you watching."[23]

The film has drawn comparisons to the 1967 film Le Samouraï.[24][25][26]

Accolades

Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival September 9, 2023 Golden Lion David Fincher Nominated [27]
Premio Soundtrack Stars Award — Special Mention Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Won [28]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 15, 2023 Original Score — Feature Film Nominated [29]

References

  1. ^ Felperin, Leslie (September 3, 2023). "The Killer Review: Michael Fassbender Is an Unsettled Assassin in David Fincher's Wry, Pleasingly Pulpy Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Glieberman, Owen (September 3, 2023). "'The Killer' Review: David Fincher's Hitman Thriller Is a Portrait of a Coldly Methodical Assassin Played by Michael Fassbender". Variety. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "The Killer". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "The Killer — Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (February 24, 2021). "David Fincher Reunites with His Seven Screenwriter for Feature Adaptation of The Killer at Netflix; Michael Fassbender Circling Lead Role". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "The Killer". La Biennale di Venezia. July 11, 2023. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Fleming, Michael (November 1, 2007). "Paramount, Fincher catch Killer". Variety. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Sharf, Zack (June 24, 2021). "David Fincher to Film The Killer in Paris This Fall with Mank Oscar-Winning DP Messerschmidt". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Perez, Rodrigo (October 8, 2021). "Tilda Swinton Is Joining David Fincher's The Killer Starring Michael Fassbender [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Sharf, Zack (June 24, 2021). "David Fincher to Film The Killer in Paris This Fall with Mank Oscar-Winning DP Messerschmidt". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "David Fincher, Michael Fassbender Movie 'The Killer' Films in Chicago This February". Screen Magazine. December 16, 2021. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "Award-winning director David Fincher will film The Killer in Chicago area". Reel Chicago. January 21, 2022. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Thomas, Michael (May 3, 2023). "The Killer: Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know About David Fincher's Next Movie". Collider. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Kreps, Daniel (February 3, 2023). "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Compose Score for David Fincher's Next Film 'The Killer'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (September 3, 2023). "Why David Fincher Chose The Smiths for Michael Fassbender's Zen 'Meditation' Soundtrack in 'The Killer'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  16. ^ "'The Killer' de David Fincher, film sorpresa del Zinemaldia". EiTB. September 26, 2023. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 30, 2023). "Netflix Sets Fall Movie Release Dates For 'The Killer', 'Pain Hustlers', 'Sly', Wes Anderson's 'The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  19. ^ "The Killer". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 17, 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  20. ^ "The Killer". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  21. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (September 3, 2023). "The Killer review – terrific David Fincher thriller about a philosophising hitman". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  22. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (September 3, 2023). "'The Killer' Review: David Fincher Executes a Sleek If Small Michael Fassbender Thriller Armed with Existential Futility". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  23. ^ Dargis, Manohla (November 9, 2023). "'The Killer' Review: He's a Deadly Bore". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Bilmes, Alex (October 27, 2023). "David Fincher's 'The Killer' Review: Off-Target". Esqiure. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  25. ^ Schrager, Nick (October 26, 2023). "'The Killer' Is David Fincher at His Wicked Best". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  26. ^ Pierce, Nev (October 10, 2023). "Making A Murderer: On Set Of The Killer With David Fincher". Empire (magazine). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (July 25, 2023). "Venice Lineup Includes Films by Bradley Cooper, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, David Fincher and More". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "COLLATERAL AWARDS OF THE 80TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL". La Biennale di Venezia. September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  29. ^ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
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