Ever since 2013, David Fincher has had a close relationship with Netflix. The streaming giant's breakthrough in the era of streaming, "House of Cards," was a representative work whose tone is set by Fincher. Subsequently, whether it's the popular series "Mindhunter" or the nostalgic "Mank," they were all produced with substantial support from Fincher's long-time collaboration with Netflix. As one of the foremost Hollywood directors, David Fincher has notably forged a strong connection with streaming platforms. His most recent project, "The Killer," is a gripping crime thriller helmed by Fincher and released exclusively on Netflix. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, the movie earned a coveted spot in the festival's Competition section.
Although general audiences might not be overly enthusiastic about it, with an IMDb rating of 7.1 and a Rotten Tomatoes popcorn score of 67%, "The Killer" has still earned recognition from professional critics for David Fincher's consistent visual quality. Critics have awarded it a commendable 85% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Hence, the question remains: is "The Killer" an underrated masterpiece or a misstep in Fincher's career?
A One-Man Assassination
Contrary to expectations, although "The Killer" is labeled as a suspenseful action film with the title explicitly stating "the killer," it is not any standard Hollywood blockbuster like "Mission: Impossible" or "The Bourne Identity." The film introduces the protagonist, an ever-evolving assassin, by delving into his narration of the daily routine of his "work." He shares keen observations and assessments of various cities in the morning, offering unique perspectives on the cycle of life and death renewal. He divulges techniques to evade detection by security cameras, insights on seamlessly blending into crowds, and details about sleep, psychological training, and attaining the ideal mindset before taking a shot. The initial 20 minutes of the movie predominantly focus on the assassin's inner thoughts and a sequence of surveillance, infiltration, and sniper actions in Paris during an assassination mission. Ironically, despite his meticulous preparation and comprehensive explanations of the philosophy and ethics inherent in this "craft," the assassin ultimately fails in his mission!
This is the first twist in the film and the first mission failure in the assassin's career. He must now face risks and, more importantly, bear the consequences. The film consists of seven chapters, including the first part of the failed assassination, the retaliation against the assassin's girlfriend, a series of revenge actions by the assassin, and finally, his retirement to enjoy a peaceful life.
The story is straightforward, with the fate of the assassin difficult to predict, and Fincher does not intend to construct a complex world of killers. Therefore, all our attention is naturally focused on the assassin played by Michael Fassbender.
Since "Dark Phoenix" in 2019, Fassbender has been immersed in the world of racing, and "The Killer" not only marks his return to the big silver screen but also showcases a change in his acting style. He transitioned from an "elegantly morbid" style to "elegantly deadly." To portray this seemingly inconspicuous killer, Fassbender spent ten weeks training in military and combat techniques, effortlessly disassembling a sniper rifle, and conducting meticulous research on real-life assassins in history. In his own words, "I'm just trying to understand the mindset of an antisocial person." Perhaps that's why, even though the plot of "The Killer" is monotonous, it remains engaging all the way till the end.
Minimalistic Retro Style
An interesting phenomenon is that while "The Killer" has a retro and nostalgic tendency, it also exudes a minimalistic and fashionable trend. Its retro style lies in the abandonment of flashy and fake fights and the absence of suspenseful backgrounds. The most exciting part of "The Killer" is not how the assassin digs his mind for schemes but how he accurately sets traps for his targets.
Fincher has taken inspiration from Melville's "Le Samouraï," a film with a simple and exasperatingly straightforward plot but with characters' inner activities unusually complex. The assassin exercises and observes in an unfinished house, finding joy in solitude, much like Alain Delon's character observing a canary in "Le Samouraï." Both characters exude an air of asceticism, striving to remain undisturbed by worldly affairs.
Fincher uses rich audiovisual effects to constantly shape the assassin's "movement" and "stillness" in his mindset. For example, before firing a shot, he tries to lower his heart rate with music, and the camera alternates between subjective and objective perspectives, while the sound transitions between inner monologue and background music.
In the assassination action, every detail of wiping fingerprints and every method of handling evidence is precise and delicate. When it comes to dealing with a corpse, the assassin unexpectedly throws in a touch of dry humor: thoroughly cleaning up is a physically demanding task.
Essentially, Fincher skillfully transforms each of the assassin's actions into a form of art through precise and seamless shots and editing. However, he also subtly reveals the complaints and struggles of these skilled individuals, deconstructing the commonly held image of spies and assassins.
However, the protagonist in "The Killer" is not just a talkative brainstormer. When he gets down to business, he resembles the most terrifying killer in the Coen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men": wearing a pale smile, inviting the deceased to approach, and then gently tapping with a high-pressure air tank, causing the target to instantly meet their demise.
Fassbender's portrayal of the assassin in this film is similarly not to be trifled with. Whether it's shooting nails with a pneumatic gun, sealing the target's respiratory tract, or instantly killing the target when they attempt to fight back, the assassin's sharp methods are reminiscent of Denzel Washington in "The Equalizer," seeking simplicity and efficiency. Moreover, the film also clearly bears the shadow of "John Wick" in presenting how the protagonist overcomes a series of challenges.
The amalgamation of styles in "The Killer" hasn't resulted in incoherence or inconsistency. On the contrary, it forms a unified and coherent narrative, employing the profession of an assassin as a vehicle to express contemporary feelings of emptiness and superficiality within individuals. Moreover, it explores the intriguing phenomenon of the constant pursuit and enhancement of one's self-worth.
Why does the assassin fail at the beginning, and why does he spare a life at the end? These two corresponding plots couldn’t be explained by coincidence or a sudden softening of heart; they point to the subconscious rebellion and self-sarcasm of modern individuals about fate.
Fincher's level has never declined; he just no longer shines as brightly, excelling only in form. Just as "The Killer" does not follow the path of an action movie, it is still worth savoring for its intriguing elements and can easily fit into the list of best films of the year.
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