The Killer * * * *

The Killer is the latest film from David Fincher.  Fincher is one of those directors who always gets it right. Some of his previous films include: Gone Girl, The Social Network and from many years ago, Fight Club.

Primarily using VO from the main protagonist at times this almost feels like a documentary. It is as if we are compelled to look at events from the outside. Empathy is not allowed.  A statement which The Killer frequently repeats in regard to the people he is killing.

Bigmouth Strikes Again

As he has many aliases we never really know his name, but The Killer is an assassin. A hit man. For him it's just a job. He is utterly amoral.  You pay him enough and he will kill anyone for you. 

The opening scene is very long as he prepares for an assassination.  He talks about patience, the need to remain aware whilst dealing with endless boredom as he waits day and night for the target to present himself.  He listens to music - always a band from the eighties, The Smiths.

When things go wrong on a particular job, he is disappointed with himself but remains calm.  He still has to clean up and disappear from the scene.  But the client is not very happy with this botched job.  When The Killer returns home he finds someone is looking for him and has already taken vengeance on the person he loves most.

 Given his "profession" should we be sympathetic?

Now we see him swing into action as he knows this will not stop. Using his considerable resources of weaponry and multiple false lD's The Killer has to work his way through a maze of loathsome people made up of  agents and middle-men that exists to protect everyone, from the client up.   He hunts down and visits, crooked lawyers and thugs.  Shades of the first Taken film and even a touch of John Wick.  

The facts remain however that we know, and he knows, this all started because he stuffed up.

Reflecting its title and subject matter, The Killer is a cold, insistent film.  There aren't too many laughs I can tell you that. But it's hypnotic in its determination.  

It's efficiently divided into six chapters defined by location with the protagonists continuing VO.  Michael Fassbender does a superb job as the The Killer - a complicated and much flawed man capable of making serious errors, despite his bloody efficiency.