Netflix’s The Killer marks a long-awaited reunion between director David Fincher and one of his key collaborators that promises to make it an event. David Fincher has evolved into one of the most important filmmakers of the last 30 years, but his career got off to a famously rocky start due to Alien 3. This 1992 sci-fi sequel was a torturous production for all involved and could have killed his filmmaking career before it began, but he rebounded with the instant classic that was Se7en a few years later. The film’s incredible performances, rich visuals, and harrowing end twist set the director on a run of incredible movies.
David Fincher’s movie output has noticeably slowed down in the last decade while he’s focused on TV shows like Mindhunter. While his Netflix biopic Mank received positive reviews, it was quickly forgotten following its 2020 debut. His upcoming thriller The Killer looks like a major return to form, with the thriller following Michael Fassbender’s titular hitman in the aftermath of a job gone wrong. Not only does it mark a comeback for Fassbender – who has been largely absent from the big screen since 2019 – but The Killer also marks a big reunion between Fincher and Se7en’s screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker.
The Killer Reunites David Fincher With Se7en Writer (& That’s Great)
Walker’s script for Se7en created a buzz around Hollywood, but many filmmakers and studios were scared off by how dark and violent the material was. It was only thanks to the insistence of eventual director Fincher and star Brad Pitt that the ending remained intact, and the film’s success transformed all of their careers. Walker would go on to pen films such as Sleepy Hollow while doing script doctor work on the likes of Event Horizon and Fincher’s own Fight Club. While Netflix is unlikely to sell The Killer on this big reunion, it’s exciting nevertheless.
Fincher and Walker have simpatico creative instincts, and their first major collaboration would in many ways define their careers moving forward. When it comes to dark psychological thrillers, few do it better than Fincher and Walker (as also shown with his Nic Cage thriller 8MM), and the duo have great source material to work with in the original graphic novel. The combination of Fincher, Walker and Fassbender makes The Killer a must-see, and one that will (hopefully) be a return to form for all three.
The Killer Trailer Already Suggests It’ll Be Another Great David Fincher Movie
The Killer’s trailer is the best kind of teaser; one that conveys the mood and vibe of the movie without any real spoilers. It’s a quick-cut montage of Fassbender’s methodical hitman as he recites his mantra of “Stick to the plan” over and over while giving glimpses of other major cast members and setpieces. It also reveals Fassbender’s assassin smashes a lot of cell phones. The cinematography alone marks it as a Fincher outing, but there’s a vibrancy and energy to the footage that suggests it will be the thinking person’s action thriller.
key release dates
The Killer (2023)
Release Date:2023-11-10
