Earlier this I month I saw reports that made me grimace. It was how David Fincher’s upcoming film The Killer, was being pushed to 2024. This news made me feel bummed out. I was disappointed on so many levels because we haven’t seen a good Fincher film since Gone Girl in 2014. Yeah, we got Mindhunter which was a really great series from 2017-2019, but it’s not the same as a film. The project that followed was Mank which is a dreadfully boring movie. I’ve been longing for a juicy film from Fincher that has his prints all over it and it appears that’s what The Killer is.
Netflix released a tweet yesterday that showcased all of their original films that’ll be releasing this year and when we’d be able to see them. We’ll be getting a comedy starring Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy this month, an action flick starring Chris Hemsworth in June, and then The Killer on November 10. Netflix is bringing the heat in 2023.
I’ve seen two new movies already this year and plan to see about sixty more releasing in 2023. With the announcement of The Killer, there is no movie coming out that rivals the excitement I have for Fincher’s new flick. Maybe I’ll be more excited for Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse or Asteroid City, but I’m really jacked for The Killer. Fincher fans can now rejoice.
What Is The Killer About?
The Killer is an adaptation of a French graphic novel series written by Alexis Nolent. Nolent used the pen name Matz to write the novels and the illustration came from Luc Jacamon. Nolent wrote twelve books in the series that span from 1998 to 2013 and it follows an unnamed assassin. The assassin being chronicled is at a point in his life where he begins to suffer an inner mental crisis. I’m all in. Fincher’s adaptation of the series is billed as a “neo-noir action thriller”. While the film revolves around an extensive book series, Andrew Kevin Walker has written the script. This isn’t the first time that Fincher has worked with Kevin Walker. He wrote the script for what I think is Fincher’s best film, Se7en.
The Killer stars Michael Fassbender as The Killer in his first film role since 2019 when he was in Dark Phoenix directed by Simon Kinberg. Fassbender is a talented actor and I’m personally fired up to see him work with a great director like Fincher. While Fassbender is in the lead, the supporting cast doesn’t disappoint. The lovely Tilda Swinton will be alongside Charles Parnell and Arliss Howard. EXCITING!
What intrigues me the most about The Killer is the film’s plot. Fincher is a master when it comes to psychological thrillers, but he hasn’t really done action. I mean there is action in Fight Club and Panic Room, but he’s never done a full-fledged action flick. From the short, six-second trailer I saw, this looks like an action thriller, but I am expecting a Fincher-level twist in it. He’s the king of dropping the viewers’ jaw with twists in films like Gone Girl and Se7en.
The Long Wait
While I was disappointed about the initial announcement of the film’s push, The Killer has been teased for over a decade. In 2007, it was announced that he’d be directing an adaptation of the book series written by Allesandro Camon (dodged a bullet there). Now think about that timing though. 2007 began the start of a great Fincher run. Between 2007 and 2014 he directed Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl. What an epic run. I’m developing a theory that we’re getting another great Fincher film run. Between 1995-2002, Fincher had a great run. He directed Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, and Panic Room. Then, there was a five-year break. Fincher then returned with the five-film run I mentioned.
We are now eight years removed from Fincher’s last great film and this could be his renaissance (not that he really needs one because he’s so great). At age 60, Fincher is still in his prime and has consistently been creative outside of movies.
With Fincher directing so many great films between 2007-2014, the noise around The Killer went silent. It returned in 2021 when Fincher brought the film idea to Netflix. In 2020, he signed “an exclusive” 4-year deal with the streaming platform and The Killer will be his second film. Filming of The Killer began in November of 2021 and reportedly wrapped on March 28, 2020. Filming occurred in Paris, New Orleans, the Dominican Republic, and St. Charles, Illinois.
The Anticipation
Look, I’ve already gushed about the film earlier in this blog, but this really is an exciting film to look forward to. David Fincher is one of the most talented directors of the past two to three decades and one of the best that’s still consistently working. His filmmaking is so layered and makes you think about what you’re watching. Fincher creates films that you don’t just turn your brain off when you watch, but doesn’t go as far as Christopher Nolan where he makes his films overly complex. I can’t wait to watch this film and if it has a Glass Onion or The Pale Blue Eye style rollout where it’s briefly in theaters, I will 100% see it on the big screen. I’ll drive anywhere in New England to see it. That’s how excited I am for this release in ten months.
