by Jamil Weeks

David Fincher’s, The Killer, stars Michael Fassbender in a tension-filled thriller and bloody tale of murder. Known for his stylistically dark and gritty visions, Fincher adds his unique twist on assassin films. The movie follows Fassbender’s character as he embarks on a mission of revenge after a hit gone wrong. The Killer pairs Fincher with one time collaborator Andrew Kevin Walker, who wrote Seven. Everything you love about Fincher films you will find in The Killer. The lush cinematography. The uneasy and sinister undertones of the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score. The plunge into the seedy, bleak world of unsavory individuals. Yet despite all the things we have come to enjoy about Fincher films, his most recent effort proves to be a mixed bag.

Do not watch this movie thinking you are going to see a James Bond or John Wick film.With The Killer, Fincher takes a more grounded, sobering approach to the assassin tale, choosing to focus more on the hitman’s process of murdering his victims than on the action. In fact, this film is not even an action film, although it has some action elements in it. Fincher takes his time telling the story, which seems intentional. Fincher strips away the sensational aspects of a typical action thriller, which oddly makes for a more interesting watch. You never know what direction the film is taking you, which is how the film holds your attention throughout the nearly two-hour runtime. Fassbender’s character, who is nameless in the story, is calculating and methodical in how he dispatches his targets. Fincher depicts the discipline of the killer’s murderous campaign with meticulous detail as if the killer’s methods mirror his own style of filmmaking. Maybe that was the point of the film, to show a master at his craft, thus symbolizing Fincher’s approach to filmmaking.

The best thing about this movie is Fassbender. The movie would have been a disaster if the lead role had been placed in the hands of a less talented actor. Fassbender is asked to subtly convey emotions often with facial expressions and body gestures. Yet despite his character’s lack of dialogue, Fassbender’s chilling portrayal as the cold-blooded executioner still manages to be captivating. A tough feat, considering the emotionless nature of the character he is portraying. There’s no character arc. Just a man with an unyielding determination to complete his mission. Some might find this straightforward approach to filmmaking jarring. The inability to pin down this character’s sense of morality, if he has any at all, would normally leave you feeling disconnected from the character. Fassbender keeps you intrigued as his character struggles to maintain his cool despite the dangerous situations he encounters. In a strange way, you find yourself rooting for him to succeed in his mission even if you disapprove of his actions.

Outside of Fassbender’s one man show, there are two scenes in this movie that are the clear highlights of the film. One involves a brutal and bloody fight sequence. Absent of fancy choreography, the scene shows an all-out brawl between Fassbender’s character and one of his targets. You can literally feel each punch and flinch with each crushing body blow as the two battle it to the death in the ultra-violent confrontation. The realistic depiction of the fighting keeps you on the edge of your seat. The scene is reminiscent of the warehouse fight scene between Denzel’s Robert McCall and the big Russian mafia goon from The Equalizer movie. The second scene involves a face-off between Fassbender and another assassin, played by Tilda Swinton. Swinton steals the scene as the pair sit across the table from each other engaged in a witty but deadly contest of trying to outsmart the other. Another nailbiter of a scene that keeps your eyes glued to the screen as Swinton’s character tries to talk her way out of certain death as Fassbender responds with an ice-cold glare. What makes these riveting scenes so superb is both the suspenseful buildup and the ensuing satisfying outcomes.

My major gripe with the film is the ending. Without providing any spoilers, I would say the ending of the film is rather uneventful. Imagine playing a game like Kung Fu, where you are on a mission ultimately to get to the “top guy”. You manage to fight your way all the way to the final boss, only for nothing to really happen. You enjoy the journey in getting to the final boss, but the anticlimactic conclusion leaves you wondering what the point of the whole journey was. This type of disappointment is what describes my experience watching The Killer. The film takes its time building up to what you anticipate will be this grand ending. However once you reach the grand finale, there is no big payoff. No shocking revelations. No real consequences for the protagonists’ heinous actions. Most of Fincher’s films stick with you long after the credits roll, but here the hollow ending ultimately makes this film forgettable.

While The Killer may be a slower burn than most modern-day filmgoers are accustomed, this movie is a wet dream for cinephiles. The Killer is a movie designed for people who obsess over the more technical aspects of film, like sound design and lighting. I would only recommend this film to hardcore Fincher fans. With unconventional storytelling, the film may be hard for most people to watch in a theater. Within Fincher's filmography, I would say The Killer has a replay value similar to The Game. A film you might forget about years from now but may watch if you are bored and happen to come across it running on TNT if you are bored. Most of the film will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what Is going to happen next. Ultimately, the conclusion leaves you with an underwhelming feeling, despite the fantastic performance from Fassbender. The Killer releases on Netflix on November 10.So if you have nothing to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon, give the film a try and decide for yourself if the movie hits or misses.