"The Killer" movie , My thoughts

Movie Review: The Killer (2023) – A Calm, Calculated Revenge

Recently watched The Killer, an action thriller directed by David Fincher. It was a decent watch, and it tops my list for the week.

Setting the Stage

The movie opens with a narration introducing the hero’s character and explaining the methodical way he operates. The opening scene reminded me of the sniper introduction from The Day of the Jackal. However, while that film established the assassin’s potential immediately through a silent, impactful shot, The Killer takes a different approach. Here, the protagonist fails at first, but the movie picks up pace afterward.

There are many similarities to The Day of the Jackal—such as returning to a safe home after a mission, having multiple passports, and carrying large amounts of money. But from there, The Killer carves its own path.

The Story and the Revenge

After a failed assassination, the protagonist’s employers attempt to kill his wife in retaliation. This sets off a classic revenge plot, where the hero methodically hunts down those responsible. In movies like this, the audience should feel the protagonist’s rage and satisfaction with every step of revenge. Does The Killer deliver that? To an extent, yes—although not completely.

What stood out to me was the action sequence inside a house, which was choreographed very well, and a quiet, intense conversation between the hero and a woman connected to his attackers. I also liked how he gathered information on the people who targeted his wife. While the methods were not groundbreaking, they were executed neatly.

Themes, Dialogues, and Execution

Throughout the film, important principles guide the protagonist’s actions, such as:

"Stick to your plan. Anticipate, don't improvise. Trust no one. Never yield an advantage. Fight only the battle you're paid to fight."

These lines are repeated almost like a mantra in the background whenever he is on a mission. In addition to this, the movie is peppered with life lessons and observations the protagonist has learned, which I enjoyed.

The ending was also satisfying. Instead of a typical climax, the protagonist confronts an old man who was responsible, but chooses to leave him alive—demonstrating that he can reach anyone, no matter how powerful or protected they are. It was a subtle yet impactful way to close the story.

Final Thoughts

One thing that felt a bit off was the first 30 minutes, which were slow and heavy with narration and setup. It took some time for the real story to kick in.

The movie is divided into chapters, which makes me think it might be based on a book, though I’m not entirely sure.

Overall, The Killer offers a calm, calculated revenge drama with some memorable moments. It was definitely a better experience than Luther: The Fallen Sun—let me know in the comments if you want my review for that as well.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Thank you for reading.
— Sai Deepak Belamana

---