Netflix’s Perfect, R-Rated Action Thriller Is A Ruthless Killing Machine

By Robert Scucci
| Published 10 seconds ago

David Fincher, like Quentin Tarantino, is one of those directors whose films I like to slowly savor over time because putting out high-quality films like Zodiac and Gone Girl, and series like Mindhunter, means there’s an obvious emphasis on quality over quantity. The downside of this approach means that I still haven’t seen Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, and I only just watched 2023’s The Killer this past weekend. I’m so glad that I finally pulled the trigger on this one when I saw it on Netflix, but I’m also incredibly bummed that I missed out on what may very well be my favorite Fincher flick of all time.

What’s there not to like about The Killer? Michael Fassbender operates as a nameless assassin with a strict code of ethics. Hard-boiled narration dominates the dialogue. And, most importantly, nearly every scene features a song by The Smiths, and for some reason Morrissey’s signature blend of melodramatic crooning makes the whole thing a top-tier experience from front to back.

While I haven’t yet checked out the Alexis Nolent comic series of the same name that inspired The Killer, I’ve already started looking for a new thing to obsess over. Given how much fun I had watching the movie, I think I know what my next deep dive is going to be.

A Killing Machine’s Perfect Routine

The Killer wastes no time showing you just how calculating its titular character (Michael Fassbender) is when he’s on a job. He knows how to bide his time, where to grab an unassuming bite to eat, how to hide in plain sight, and even how to squeeze in some yoga while waiting for his target to check in at the hotel across the street. Empathy is his enemy because he’s simply showing up to do a job. Nothing more, nothing less.

When The Killer botches a job, inadvertently shooting a dominatrix instead of his intended target, he quickly disappears and heads home to regroup before traveling back to his hideout in the Dominican Republic. Once there, he learns that his girlfriend Magdala (Sophie Charlotte) had been accosted by two assassins known as The Brute (Sala Baker) and The Expert (Tilda Swinton), leaving her in critical condition.

Looking for answers and revenge, The Killer sets out to do what he does best: kill people with ruthless efficiency. The rest of the film moves from point A to point B to point C, which sounds boring but is anything but. Watching Fassbender stop by one of his many strategically located storage units to swap out license plates, credentials, and weapons as if it’s just another day at the office is what really sells this movie. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: movies like The Killer simply don’t work if the muscle memory seems phoned in.

On his quest to track down and eliminate The Expert, he has run-ins with his handler, known as The Lawyer (Charles Parnell), his office administrator Dolores (Kerry O’Malley), and turns The Brute’s house into crime scene, all to the tune of “This Charming Man,” proving that he’s a man with exceptional taste. The Killer can effortlessly access any building and disappear without a trace, using a new name and ID to help him move along. It’s almost poetic how seamlessly he handles these heightened situations that would make any lesser man crumble under the pressure.

Fincher’s Grit Always Lands

Like most David Fincher films, The Killer has a gritty aesthetic that borders on grimy. Everything has a muted green hue to it, making it feel like it occupies the same realm as Fight Club or Seven. Like The Killer’s every move, everything is intentional, making every frame drip with purpose, as if you’re meant to experience the late-night fluorescently lit storefronts and corner offices firsthand.

Though it never goes full-on over-the-top like most action flicks, The Killer earns its keep as a slow-burn thriller with a smoldering wick that steadily burns until it’s finally time to pop off and level the entire room. It requires the same kind of patience a person needs while waiting for their target to finally walk through the crosshairs so they can finally pull the trigger and bolt. Fassbender does such a great job sizing up his surroundings, though, that you’ll never once feel bored.

The Killer can be streamed on Netflix.