The Killer
Film Review by Ekow Daniels
To hear that there's a new David Fincher film is to pique my interest. I've been a hardcore fan of Fincher since he proved me wrong after I declared that his 'Alien 3' would be the beginning and the end of his career in feature films.
Since that studio-created debacle, he's gone on to make a string of excellent movies - 'Se7en', 'The Game', 'Fight Club', 'Zodiac', 'The Social Network', 'The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo' and 'Gone Girl', all of which I re-watch at least once a year. Even his forays into television 'House of Cards' and 'Mindhunter' are a cut above the rest
His stock-in-trade is examining the darker corners of the human mind and soul and his latest Netflix entry, 'The Killer', an adaptation of a graphic novel by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon is no exception. As with 'Se7en' and 'Mindhunter', this tale revolves around a serial killer, although the titular character is a commercial serial killer, otherwise known as a highly paid assassin.
The film stars Michael Fassbender as the nameless and merciless assassin, who botches a job and winds up a target himself as a result. When his enemies come after him his partner ends up as collateral damage, prompting a lethal revenge tour.
Throughout most of the film, Fassbender taciturn character shares his thoughts through voiceover. These thoughts convey the patience, coldness and precision with which he goes about his job. It's interesting to note that those characteristics are evident when he's not 'at work' as well.
Although the movie is beautifuly shot by director of photography, Erik Messerschmidt, and features an eerie score from frequent collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, it doesn't rise to the level of his past endeavors. It's engaging without being engrossing. Fassbender coldness permiates the screen, but fails to draw you in, unlike Kevin Spacey's John Doe in 'Se7en' who, with his limited screen time, grabs you and doesn't let go. The Killer has no arc. He's as cold and removed at the end as he was in the beginning.
Despite fincher's visual dexterity and the aid of voiceover, we never get to heart of the man. Although, it could be said that in order to do what he does, it helps not to have one.
I would describe this as minor Fincher, not in league with his previous masterpieces, in particular, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo'. I wish Sony had let him shoot the other two books in the Stieg Larson Millennium series. I'm hoping for a return to form with his next project 'Strangers', an adaptation of Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train'. And yes, I am holding my breath!
Overall rating: 2/5
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