David Fincher’s most recent release The Killer has received critical acclaim for its slow-burn plot, but that plot did a clever job of hiding some details that may not be spotted until rewatching. Showcasing the director’s signature style and featuring an excellent lead performance by Michael Fassbender in the title role, this Netflix movie is about a meticulous hitman on an international manhunt he swears is not personal. This could, of course, be seen as an apt metaphor for Fincher himself, whose films are consistently well-crafted projects that include incredible attention to detail and painstakingly planned structures and narratives.
The Killer is based on a French graphic novel series by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon, and it might just be an even better viewing experience the second time round as there are so many hidden details, references, and The Killer Easter eggs that audiences may have missed on the first viewing. Points of interest include a multitude of details to spot during The Killer’s first failed assassination attempt, an interesting thematic choice for naming false identities, and subtle character actions that give great insight into their inner emotional world.
10 The First Stakeout
The location foreshadows his failed assassination.
The Killer meticulously plots the assassination of his first target from a rundown abandoned WeWork office, opposite the Parisian hotel room his proposed victim is staying at, in the company of a dominatrix. The pairing of a bankrupt late-stage capitalist office with the seedy criminal underworld inhabited by the protagonist is classic Fincher. The juxtaposition of his upcoming assassination attempt and the corporate enterprise he is standing in showcases the connections between this cold and unfeeling hitman and with the cutthroat world of business. The Killer’s failed surroundings act as an apt metaphor for his upcoming failure.
9 The References To Classic Movies
Fincher pays homage to directors like Alfred Hickcock.
As with all Fincher films, the attention to detail is second to none, and the cinematography is no exception. As viewers, we are witnessing The Killer’s point of view as he stakes out his first target in shots that are reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1954 thriller Rear Window. This callback to earlier cinema is just one of the ways that Fincher pays tribute to the films that influenced The Killer which include French New Wave classic Le Samouraï, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation, and of course, the legendary Hitchcock movie.
8 The Killer’s Heart Rate
It is above 60 bpm before he misses his shot.
The Killer’s narration gives us insight into his outlook and philosophy. However, unlike most cinematic lone hitmen, he embraces technology and even uses a smartwatch for better precision. As he prepares his sniper to aim at his target, The Killer tells the audience his heart rate must be below 60 bpm as he slowly and calmly waits for the perfect set of circumstances before deciding to proceed with the kill. However, the final shot a viewer gets to see of The Killer’s watch showcases a heart rate of 65 bpm, giving the audience their first hint that things may not go according to plan.
7 The Lack Of Dialogue
The title character seldom speaks.
The Killer seldom features dialogue and, for the most part, is driven by the narration of the title character. This is a main component of the film, but on first viewing, it may not be apparent just how little Michael Fassbender’s character speaks. With a strong soundtrack, excellent pacing, and a thrilling episodic structure, the fact that this movie is essentially The Killer quietly and carefully moving from one location to the next with very little human interaction does not register as dull. When immersed in the world of this film, audiences could be forgiven for failing to notice how sparse the dialogue is.
6 The Killer’s Empathy Increases As The Film Progresses
He granted a last request.
The emotionless outlook of The Killer is echoed in the mantra he repeats to himself: “Forbid empathy. Empathy is weakness. Weakness is vulnerability.” This nihilist philosophy brings to mind thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche and the occultist Aleister Crowley, but as the film progresses, we see these self-imposed restrictions begin to crumble. As The Killer gains other assassins’ identities from the office administrator Dolores, she asks him to provide her with a quick, non-suspicious death, so her family will be entitled to life insurance. His willingness to grant her this final wish by pushing her down a flight of stairs indicates that his “no empathy” outlook is not always consistent.
5 The Killer’s Aliases Are Classic Sitcom Characters
His name changes as he travels the world.
The Killer is chock-full of references to corporate branding, film, and video games, and features a whole host of Easter eggs and hidden details for eagle-eyed viewers to discover. One interesting practice of The Killer is the theme that decides his many different aliases seen throughout the film. The names he picks include different classic sitcom code names from classic TV series, including The Odd Couple, Happy Days, and Cheers. These different aliases can be seen on The Killers’ fake IDs, passports, and documentation throughout the movie to board flights, rent cars, and make his way in the world.
4 Michael Fassbender Did Not Blink On Camera
It’s an incredible feat of method acting.
One incredible detail in The Killer that showcases Michael Fassbender’s unwavering commitment to the role is his dedication to not blinking on camera throughout the entire production. An incredible feat to pull off, Oscar-winning cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt has stated that Fassbender’s character did not blink once during the filming. Fassbender has been known for his method acting approach to his performance and prepares intensely for every role he takes. He has stated in the past that he goes over his lines hundreds of times, and it is important to him to be able to get into the mind of the character he is playing.
3 The Smiths’ Music Hints At The Killer’s Buried Humanity
Morrissey’s lyrics hint at an emotional core.
When not hearing the soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Rose, The Killer is listening to a playlist composed almost entirely by British act The Smiths. This may feel like a strange choice initially to be the favorite band of a cold and uncaring hitman but upon further inspection, it actually makes perfect sense. The lyrics sung by Smiths frontman Morrissey are from that of a tortured soul, trying to dismiss empathy, but unable to help from caring. Songs like “How Soon Is Now?” contain lyrics like “I am human and I need to be loved” which can feel like The Killer is reaching toward his buried sense of compassion as he walks along his murderous path in life.
2 The Final Kill Is Metaphorical
It is the death of his old way of living.
The Killer is divided into six chapters, one focusing on a particular kill in his journey. The first is his unfortunate failed assassination and murder of the dominatrix in Paris. The second is the taxi driver in the Dominican Republic. The third sees The Killer target a lawyer in New Orleans. The fourth is a violent takedown in Florida. In the fifth, he takes out Tilda Swinton’s expert assassin in New York. However, the final chapter contains no physical kill as he allows the Client he’s been searching for to live. Instead, the final kill is a spiritual one, with The Killer leaving his life as an assassin behind.
1 The Final Shot Eye Twitch Hints At The Killer’s Renewed Humanity.
The conclusion hints at a return to empathy.
The ending of The Killer finds the hitman back in the Dominican Republic and reuniting with his girlfriend Magdala, getting ready to enjoy his retirement. The Killer’s character arc positioned him as someone who believes he can control his own life, whether that’s through how he eats, feels, or acts. He wants to differentiate himself from the masses and reject the ordinary way of life. However, in the final shot of The Killer viewers can see that things may have changed as he narrates: “Maybe you’re just like me. One of the many.” This is followed by a subtle eye twitch that hints at the return of his humanity and empathy.
The Killer (2023)
Based on the graphic novel by Alexis Nolent, The Killer is a Netflix film directed by David Fincher. Michael Fassbender stars as the titular character. This hitman experiences a near-miss on a mission and now must wrestle with his conscience and his employers as he begins to fight against his ways as an assassin.
- Release Date
- November 10, 2023
- Director
- David Fincher
- Cast
- Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Kerry O’Malley, Charles Parnell, Lacey Dover, Monique Ganderton, Sala Baker
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 118 Minutes
- Genres
- Action, Adventure, Crime
- Writers
- Andrew Kevin Walker
