What do you get when you pair John Wick with David Fincher? The Killer. This captivating revenge thriller follows an assassin (Michael Fassbender) who embarks on an international manhunt against those who wronged him. With David Fincher’s unique touch, this is the perfect antithesis to the chaotic mayhem of John Wick.
David Fincher is an absolute weapon when it comes to crafting slow burn thrills. From Zodiac (2007) to Se7en (1995), he has a proven track record of being able to lock in audiences and maintain a constant sense of tension. What he’s managed to do with injecting suspense into The Killer is brilliant on so many levels. Firstly, there’s a strong parallel between the way Fassbender’s character conducts his business and the way Fincher has directed this feature. The film is very meticulous and methodically crafted, much like how The Killer himself is very particular about his process. Whether by design or accidental, it’s a detail I loved. It’s a very slow-moving piece with many moments that may seem mundane at first, but every creative choice Fincher makes is deliberate in building a spine-chilling atmosphere and giving us insight into The Killer’s psyche. If you’re not one for a pensive thriller, this may not be your cup of tea, but if you’re down for getting wrapped up in an assassin’s personal battles, Fincher delivers exactly that.
To say this is a suspense-filled ride doesn’t capture the extent of the grip that this narrative had on me. From sweaty palms and a reluctance to blink to reminding myself it’s time to stop holding my breath, I was on the edge of my seat in constant anticipation for the next scene. The opening sequence expertly sets the tone – it puts us in the mind of The Killer, giving us everything we in order to understand who he is and what makes him tick. It’s one of the best introductions to a new character that I’ve seen in a while, and it’s assisted by Michael Fassbender’s outstanding narration. It’s not a monologue in the traditional sense, but it has the same transfixing qualities. Every word that came out of Fassbender’s mouth was so crisp you could snap it with your fingers. He could narrate the most dull of activities and make it instantly captivating. Anyway, enough of that.
Having Fassbender narrate the character’s inner thoughts over nearly every scene enhances the captivating nature of the story. It provides a peek into his complex mind and adds layers to the events shown on screen. Fassbender plays the character in a way that his facial expressions don’t give anything away about what he’s thinking – a great quality for an assassin to have. His blank, deadpan stare sometimes speaks volumes, but it’s the expertly written and delivered narration that really hit the hardest. Fassbender is one actor who has proven he can carry a film entirely through his performance, and he does exactly that. He’s in every shot and he never once breaks character, embodying and transforming into him in a way that’s honestly quite chilling. As much as he’s a fierce character, Fassbender injects subtle hints of charm and incompetence into the character that make him so much more interesting and complex than just “stoic assassin”. The more I think about this character, the more I’d love to see how he stacks up against John Wick (just not in a hand-to-hand fight).
Speaking of fights, there’s an action sequence set in a house that’s wonderful to watch. It’s bloody, brutal, gritty and extremely well choreographed – a very welcome thrill rush in a film where every other moment is slow and calculated. Accompanying most scenes is a deep, bass-heavy, booming score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s a brilliant score that helps maintain a sense of tension across the entire film and suck you into each and every scene. Along with Erik Messerschmidt’s exceptional cinematography, the technical elements of the film prove to be just as great as you’d expect from a Fincher film.
In the end, The Killer is a very well-crafted feature from the brilliant mind of David Fincher. The narrative is gripping and compelling – it’s meticulously crafted to rapidly build tension and leave you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. The pace is deliberately slow and calculated, giving ample time to delve deep into the complicated psyche of our lead. Michael Fassbender carries the film with a chilling performance in which he transforms into this very stoic, calculated assassin. His narration is wonderfully engaging, coupled with a great score and crisp cinematography that amplifies the quality. As this is available on Netflix, it’s a no-brainer when it comes to deciding what to watch next.
9/10
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