150 Word Review: 'The Killer' (2023)

It's gruesome that someone so handsome should care

Photo: Netflix

Americans love movies about hitmen because they're a forbidden fantasy: imagine having a recession-proof job.

Michael Fassbender is reptilian as a killing machine who botches a job and is marked for death in The Killer. He's another assassin with a code, a tedious one. His monotonous narration sounds the way LinkedIn grind culture posts read: rambling platitudes about what it takes to make it in the murder industry.

This is director David Fincher at his most light-hearted, a muffled anti-thriller with brief moments of irreverence. The title character has a kink for '70s sitcoms and mope rock greats The Smiths. These are cute details. The violence is bloody but bloodless.

Fincher is a craftsman, first and foremost, so his work is always thoughtful. Precise. The Killer is the color of ice and rot, blues and greens. The pace is steady, like Fassbender's fussy sociopath's heartbeat. The funniest joke roasts Amazon.

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RANDOM RANKINGS: Top 5 David Fincher Movies

5. ‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

4. ‘The Game’ (1997)

3. ‘Seven’ (1995)

2. ‘The Social Network’ (2010)

1. ‘Zodiac’ (2007)