The Killer (2023)

Watched on 2023-11-13

This film feels very of the moment. All the anodyne anonymous enormo-brands, the deserted wework, the way the killer uses the anonymity of the gig economy both as a low level cover and as high level modus operandi, it all seems very particular to now. We’ll look back at this in 10 years and be like “yep, that was the 2020s”

There’s a lot of highly specific choices that bring what could otherwise be rote Netflix fare to life not least of which is the 100% Smiths soundtrack but also , I loved to see the Floridian watching Antiques Roadshow.

Of course it has all of Fincher’s usual obsessions; icy aesthetic (does anyone use digital better?), unreliable narrators and, front and centre, a fascination with masculinity (in this case the killer is a kind of self deluded internet edge lord “I studied the blade” etc).

Fincher and masculinity, fascination is the right word, he’s clearly critical of conventional performances of masculinity but also totally gets the appeal I feel like he walks the tightrope well.