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The Killer (2023 film)

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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 alongside Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Kerry O'Malley, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton in supporting roles. Fassbender plays an assassin who embarks on an international vendetta after a hit goes wrong.

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]

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

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A professional hitman known only 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 unknown time. While waiting for the target, he eats, practices yoga, listens to music (exclusively the Smiths), and talks on the phone with his handler, Edward "Eddie" Hodges, who is an attorney and his former university law professor. The target arrives with a dominatrix and The Killer shoots but misses, accidentally shooting the dominatrix. He flees, evading the police and disposing of his equipment. He then flies to the United States.

The Killer returns to his hideout in the Dominican Republic to find it has been broken into and his girlfriend Magdala has been attacked. She is in the ICU of a hospital, with her brother watching over her. He says that Magdala was interrogated and tortured by two assassins but managed to injure one of them and escape. The Killer tracks down Leo, the taxi driver who drove the assassins to The Killer's home. Leo identifies one of the assassins, a strong man with a limp leg, nicknamed "The Brute", and a woman who resembles a Q-Tip, known as "The Expert". The Killer shoots Leo and seeks to track down the two assassins.

The Killer travels to Hodges' office in New Orleans, Louisiana, and enters the building disguised as a custodian. After forcing Dolores, Hodges' secretary, to restrain her boss and herself, The Killer destroys their electronics. As Hodges attempts to get The Killer to leave, The Killer shoots him in the chest with a nail gun to torture the names of the hitmen out of him. However, Hodges doesn't reveal the information and dies more quickly than The Killer anticipated. Dolores offers to show The Killer the assassins' identities in her paper files in her home, asking in return that The Killer give her a non-suspicious death so her children can claim a life insurance payout. After receiving the names at her home, The Killer breaks his rule not to show empathy; he snaps her neck and shoves her down a flight of stairs, making her death look like an accident, as she had requested. He then disposes of Hodges' body.

The Killer drives to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he confronts The Brute, whom he identifies by his limp. At night, he breaks into The Brute's home to kill him, but he is blindsided and tackled. A fight ensues, during which The Brute realizes who The Killer is before The Killer fatally shoots him and sets his house on fire with a Molotov cocktail.

The Killer travels to Beacon, New York, and confronts The Expert "Q-Tip" assassin in a gourmet restaurant. Appearing to accept her fate, The Expert offers to share with him a "last supper" of whiskey, during which she questions The Killer's motivations. They leave the restaurant and go to a park, and after The Expert appears to slip down a small flight of ice-covered stairs, The Expert asks The Killer to help her up, but The Killer shoots her, revealing that she was concealing a knife.

The Killer travels to Chicago, to kill billionaire venture capitalist Henderson "Clay" Claybourne, reflecting during his flight that police take more interest in the deaths of rich people. He uses tools bought on Amazon to enter Claybourne's penthouse. Confronting him, The Killer remains mostly silent. Claybourne says that he has no personal problem with The Killer and, as a first-time client of a hitman, agreed to pay Hodges for "the trail to be scrubbed", not knowing what that meant. The Killer spares Claybourne, but he promises him a slow death if Claybourne ever targets him again. The Killer returns to the Dominican Republic and sits next to a recovering Magdala.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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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

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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 the city of Beacon, New York), in March 2022 for ten days, wrapping up later that month.[12][13]

Music

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Main article: The Killer (soundtrack)

In February 2023, it was reported that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were composing for the film.[14] The film also includes the following songs from English rock band the Smiths (in order in which they appear in the film):[15]

No.TitleLength
1."Well I Wonder"3:59
2."I Know It's Over"5:49
3."How Soon Is Now?"6:48
4."Hand in Glove"3:23
5."Bigmouth Strikes Again"3:13
6."Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"3:36
7."Girlfriend in a Coma"2:03
8."Shoplifters of the World Unite"2:58
9."Unhappy Birthday"2:45
10."This Charming Man"2:43
11."There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"4:05
Total length:41:22

Release

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Fincher, editor Kirk Baxter, cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, and sound designer Ren Klyce at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.

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

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 288 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 59 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] Time magazine's Stephanie Zacharek, noting the proliferation of thrillers about contract assassins, praised Fincher for simplifying his entry into the subgenre to its essence, which Zacharek felt expanded its possibilities rather than limiting them, especially with Fassbender's performance effectively realizing them.[23]

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."[24]

The film has drawn comparisons to the 1967 film Le Samouraï.[25][26][27]

Accolades

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Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Venice International Film Festival September 9, 2023 Golden Lion David Fincher Nominated [28]
Premio Soundtrack Stars Award — Special Mention Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Won [29]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 15, 2023 Original Score — Feature Film Nominated [30]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society December 13, 2023 Best Picture The Killer Nominated [31]
Best Score Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross Nominated
Best Stunts The Killer Nominated
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 17, 2023 Best Film Longlisted [32]
[33]
Best Director David Fincher Nominated
Best Editing Kirk Baxter Nominated
Best Cinematography Erik Messerschmidt Nominated
Best Musical Score Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross Nominated
Golden Reel Awards March 3, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Effects / Foley Ren Klyce, Jonathon Stevens, Malcolm Fife, Jeremy Molod, Thom Brennan, Dee Selby, Shelley Roden, John Roesch Nominated [34]
Critics' Choice Super Awards April 4, 2024 Best Actor in a Superhero Movie Michael Fassbender Won [35]

References

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  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. 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 December 9, 2023.  
  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. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (September 3, 2023). "Less Is More in David Fincher's Assassin Thriller The Killer". Time. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Bilmes, Alex (October 27, 2023). "David Fincher's 'The Killer' Review: Off-Target". Esqiure. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  26. ^ Schrager, Nick (October 26, 2023). "'The Killer' Is David Fincher at His Wicked Best". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Pierce, Nev (October 10, 2023). "Making A Murderer: On Set Of The Killer With David Fincher". Empire. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "2023 HMMA WINNERS AND NOMINEES". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  33. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  34. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 16, 2024). "Oppenheimer Dominates Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  35. ^ "Nominations announced for the Critics Choice Association's 4th Annual "Critics Choice Super Awards" honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series". Critics Choice Associations. March 7, 2024. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
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