{"id":20098,"date":"2023-11-11T22:36:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T03:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=20098"},"modified":"2023-11-11T22:36:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T03:36:05","slug":"the-killer-is-here-to-open-our-eyes-to-our-own-brutality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=20098","title":{"rendered":"“The Killer” is Here to Open Our Eyes to Our Own Brutality"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Killer\u00a0is someone you\u2019ve probably never been. <\/span>The Killer\u00a0is a sociopath with a wealth of knowledge and skills. You\u2019ve never been that adept at anything, let alone contract murder. <\/span>The Killer\u00a0is silent, deadly, an enigma. Certainly, you\u2019ve never been a ghost amongst the world of the living. Though you may daydreamed about being slick, silent, and cool with blood as cold as ice; you\u2019re full of compassion and empathy.\u00a0 Well, if this is the case, how come you\u2019re more like T<\/span>he Killer\u00a0than you think?<\/span><\/p>\n

The Killer\u00a0(Michael Fassbender<\/strong><\/a>) is a reserved, methodical hitman with a set of rules that keep him in business. Think \u201d<\/span>The Transporter<\/b>,\u201d but much more morbid and stern. He isn\u2019t shy about the mundane nature of his work. It may all seem like action and adventure if you go by all the other movies out there, but through deep and almost trembling voice overs he assures the audience that there is nothing flashy about murder for hire.<\/span><\/p>\n

As his latest job is taking longer than expected to complete, he finally gets an opening to put a bullet in the body of someone who rubbed someone else the wrong way. That is, till his perfect record is taken away by one fatal move, and the wrong person takes the bullet. Though he gets away safely, someone wasn\u2019t happy with what transpired and when that third party tries to send a message to <\/span>The Killer\u2013they push the wrong buttons. Out for revenge, nothing will sway <\/span>The Killer\u2019<\/b>s laser focus to remove those who wronged him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dThe Killer\u201d<\/b> may be the first David Fincher<\/a>\u00a0film I\u2019ve thought of positively in a long time. It\u2019s not like I\u2019ve hated or not enjoyed some of his films in the past, but I always felt the general feeling of mass adoration for his work has always been way over-the-top. I know \u201d<\/span>The Killer\u201d<\/b> is based on a French comic. I\u2019m unsure of how much of the overall metaphorical nature of the Andrew Kevin Walker<\/a> script is his own interpretation compared to the source. Where the Walker\/Fincher collaboration of <\/span>Se7en <\/b><\/a>may have struck a chord with many, the overall message of “<\/span>The Killer”<\/b> is far more impressive and prescient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Photo : The Killer. Michael Fassbender as an assassin in The Killer. Cr. Netflix \u00a92023<\/p>\n

Yes, the visuals are slick and lush; even when the background for the first 15 minutes of the film is a stripped WeWork space. The almost gravely, full body voiceovers that carry much of the film\u2019s scripted wordplay is intoxicating. The opposite side of the hand looks at a subject audiences think they know is refreshing in many ways. Besides some darkly lit fight scenes and the feeling you\u2019re at a concert for The Smiths, there is a lot to like about “<\/span>The Killer”<\/b> on a surface level. But what stands out most, is what it wants to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I\u2019m sitting and watching the film, the normal bouts of anger start to bubble up at small details that don\u2019t match the logical thinking I view films through. The Killer\u2019s myriad of fake IDs are all names of famous TV characters. I think to myself, how many younger viewers are going to get the joke? Does the name Felix Unger immediately send up signals to them like it does for me? Do they know who Sam Malone is? Maybe that is the point? Maybe we are at a point where someone can use the most obvious fake famous names as they want, and no one would bat an eye. The more you think about it, the more it opens up and when you see the point for all that it is worth, you can\u2019t help but smile with sadness.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Killer\u2019s overall recurring note to himself is as such; \u201cDon\u2019t let any empathy in, stick to the plan, don\u2019t deviate.\u201d That\u2019s paraphrasing, but you\u2019ll hear him say it to himself, over and over. You might think that there is no way you are as bad of a person as <\/span>The Killer, and there lies the rub. Our society as a whole is only focused on one thing. We just want the best for ourselves. We\u2019ll do anything, say anything, to get ahead. We say we care about others, but could care less to help unless it benefits ourselves. But in the end, even though we may not commit actual murder, we\u2019re no different and no better than the man who willingly murders with no remorse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Photo :\u00a0The Killer. Tilda Swinton as The Expert in The Killer. Cr. Netflix \u00a92023<\/p>\n

Final Grade: B+<\/span><\/p>\n

Check out more of Matthew’s articles.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s the trailer of the film.<\/strong><\/p>\n