The Killer (2023)
Fincher’s commitment to this cold precise style is admirable. It is very consistent throughout the film and fittingly sets the tone for this portrayal of the methodical contract killer. It is a process oriented film where we can be entertained, and repulsed, by the killers effective methods and self-set of rules. Even though the film focuses entirely on the killer and we are often inside his head, it still doesn’t make for much of a character study. He is a blank slate, his reason for revenge with his girlfriend being assaulted is of little interest to the viewer and since he also kills innocent people like it’s nothing, we don’t really care what happens to him either. Not that a film needs a main character to like or root for. Despicable characters can be quite interesting, but here he is actually quite boring as most of it hinges on various capabilities.
That came off more critical than it deserves, because it was still a pretty entertaining and visually cool looking 2 hours. It is just very far off from Fincher’s great films of the 90s.
Rating: 3