Ema Sasic

By Ema Sasic

David Fincher has proven himself to be a master of the thriller genre, expertly getting into his characters’ heads like Tyler Durden from “Fight Club.” From “Se7en” and “The Game” to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “Gone Girl,” his films often take viewers into the minds of twisted protagonists in compromising situations. So, who better to show us the inner workings of a calculated, cold and precise killer than Fincher? 

“The Killer” follows an assassin (Michael Fassbender) whose name doesn’t matter because he has a whole inventory of fake IDs and he’s not here to make friends. With a calm and detail-oriented voiceover, this international man of mystery takes us through his work, the importance of staying detached from his lethal jobs, and the way he keeps himself sane even when the work is boring. When one job goes entirely wrong, this hitman is on the run for his life and has to do what he can to protect those he loves. Good luck if you’re one of those who has wronged him.

As in Fincher’s other films, the attention to detail is extraordinary. Every action, step and thought is calculated as our protagonist goes in for a kill or tries to escape. With Fassbender taking the helm here, he makes it seem so effortless. His narration is surprisingly soothing – can we hire this assassin for the Calm app? – and the way he passes through airport security or gets all his supplies ready is a thrill to watch. Also impressive is how he never changes his poker face expression, whether or not things are going according to plan. All the precision seems to poke fun at Fincher himself, who is notoriously a perfectionist on his sets.

The various crafts blend together to create the perfect dark, cold and brooding atmosphere throughout the film. The cinematography captures the intensity of this man’s day-to-day life, particularly when a handheld camera is used once he has to face off with foes. The sound design is so sharp and places you in each setting. The editing also does not fail when it comes to being as detail-oriented and focused as our assassin. 

With so many pitch-perfect elements to the film, it’s disappointing that Andrew Kevin Walker’s script fails to truly deliver. It’s entertaining to follow the unnamed killer in his journey, but there’s not much else to chew on. When the killer’s job goes wrong and his girlfriend is later harmed as a result, there’s barely any time spent with her, and her dialogue can be easily thrown away. The people Fassbender’s character later visits aren’t given much to do either, including the delightful Tilda Swinton who is totally wasted in the film. She is excellent as always, but is given no time to truly show off the charm she brings to any role.  

One surprising quality that the script does bring is humor with Fassbender’s dry narration. “It’s amazing how physically exhausting it can be to do nothing,” he says at one point, not to mention his highly relatable “I don’t give a f—” attitude. The product placements and this assassin’s relationship to consumerism is another aspect that brings about unexpected chuckles. Who would have thought that a meticulous killer would rent out a WeWork space in Paris for a job and depend on McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches to get him the protein he needs? 

While one can’t help but want a little more from the overall story, “The Killer” still delivers in its precision and action. Fincher has taken on a number of genres over the years, but it’s clear that his specialty is a calculated thriller that takes you along for a wild ride.

Score: 3.5 out of 5