--- title: "The Killer: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-killer/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-killer" critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Killer (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 68 from 18 reviews: 11 positive, 6 mixed, 1 negative. ## Film Comment — Nathan Lee Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Fincher delivers a sleek, meticulously assembled hitman film that doubles as dry workplace satire. The Smiths soundtrack and Fassbender's controlled performance stand out as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/this-charming-man-the-killer-david-fincher-review/) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 5/4/4. 26 October 2023. The critic sees the film as a lean, mean thriller with a dry sense of humour that presents wet work unglamorously. It is engaging as a character study of a cryptic protagonist, though less ambitious than Fincher's best work. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-killer) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 3 September 2023. The critic calls it a grisly but highly satisfying tale of survival, praising Fassbender's triumphant return as a tightly-wound hitman. It reunites Fincher with the Se7en writer for a pleasing result, especially for fans of the director's earlier work. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-killer-review-fassbender-comment/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 October 2023. Fincher delivers a slick, cruel, tongue-in-cheek hitman movie destined to be a cult classic, with a standout Fassbender performance and brutally effective fight scenes, though the character remains a cipher. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/killer-review-one-david-fincher-cruellest-films-2708987) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2023. Fincher returns to thriller territory with immaculate craft and a riveting revenge story anchored by Fassbender's icy intensity, though it falls short of masterpiece status with an anticlimactic ending. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-killer-2023/) ## Total Film — Jane Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2023. Festival review. Fincher crafts a precise, propulsive assassin drama with fun genre nods, pop-culture gags and nuance from Fassbender's blank protagonist, evoking what a Fincher Bond film might look like. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-killer-2023-review/) ## The AV Club — Brent Simon Rating C+. 25 October 2023. The film is technically masterful and meticulously assembled but aloof and cold, lacking significant substance or memorable scenes despite strong craft and Fassbender's solid work. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-killer-film-review-david-fincher-netflix-1850954139) ## Evening Standard — Jo-Ann Titmarsh Rating 3/5. 13 November 2023. Fincher and Fassbender pull off an accomplished and entertaining thriller about a hunted hitman, but it lacks the shocks of Fight Club and is hard to root for such a successful murderer. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-killer-movie-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender-b1104359.html) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 3 September 2023. The critic finds the slick assassin thriller explosive but empty, fulfilling only part of its promise with a soulless genre arc. It remains watchable and gorgeous-looking thanks to controlled filmmaking and bursts of brutality. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-killer-2023) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2023. Festival review. The critic sees potential for great dry comedy undermined by relentless voiceover that tips into silliness, praising expertly composed sequences while complaining about the protagonist's endless philosophical blathering. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/david-finchers-the-killer-couldve-been-a-great-comedy.html) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2023. The Killer is a competent but grindingly bland popcorn revenge yarn that fails to live up to its potential despite Fincher’s touch. The critic complains of its perfunctory tone and overworked Smiths gags while acknowledging Fassbender’s efforts. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/35fab8b2-0379-4fc5-b175-420974bb5bfc) ## IndieWire — Ryan Lattanzio 3 September 2023. Festival review. The critic calls it a sleek if small thriller armed with existential futility, praising Fassbender's zen killer performance and Fincher's execution while noting the film's limited scope and focus on self-deception. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-killer-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender-1234901969/) ## Los Angeles Times — Joshua Rothkopf 18 November 2023. Fincher returns to basics with a sleek, under-two-hour thriller that showcases his signature style in bursts through methodical process and strong supporting turns. The critic calls it a confident, entertaining reboot that proves the director remains untouchable. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-11-18/the-killer-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender-netflix) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico 8 November 2023. Festival review. Fincher delivers a detail-rich procedural about a perfectionist hitman whose world unravels after a rare mistake. The critic praises the technical precision, dark humor, and personal themes of obsession while noting the cold protagonist may alienate some viewers. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-killer-film-review-2023) ## Screen Daily 3 September 2023. Festival review. The critic describes a precision-tooled thriller with a philosophical edge that showcases Fassbender in a substantial lead role. It is compelling, more than a sleek genre exercise, and likely to reward repeated viewings. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-killer-venice-review/5185503.article) ## Sight and Sound 7 September 2023. Festival review. The critic finds Fincher's hitman procedural intriguing and freshly staged, with a double-edged study of professional independence. Fassbender's restrained performance and the film's crisp action sequences, including a standout fight, entertain and unsettle. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/killer-david-finchers-normcore-assassin-unnerves-entertains) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 3 September 2023. Festival review. Fincher’s hitman thriller is a terrifically stylish and enjoyable procedural with deadpan focus and absurd entertainment value. The critic singles out Fassbender’s inscrutable performance and the film’s surface-level flair for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/03/the-killer-review-terrific-david-fincher-thriller-about-a-philosophising-hitman) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin 3 September 2023. Festival review. The critic finds the film a wry, efficient process-oriented thriller that subverts assassin tropes with boring costumes and unexpected choices, delivering a satisfying retro genre exercise. Praises the pulpy, location-hopping plot and Fincher's direction. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-killer-review-michael-fassbender-david-fincher-1235581046/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 9 November 2023. Fincher’s stylish film follows a loquacious, dull hitman cleaning up after a botched job, but repetitive voiceover and thin material leave it feeling empty despite strong craft. The critic finds the central character and movie boring overall. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/movies/the-killer-review-fincher.html) ## The Telegraph 10 November 2023. Fincher delivers a sleek, icy hitman revenge thriller executed with steely resolve. The critic singles out Michael Fassbender’s brilliantly malevolent performance as the highlight. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/review-the-killer-fassbender-fincher/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★☆☆. 26 October 2023. The film is a slick, stone-cold hitman story with stylish action and quirky touches like the Smiths soundtrack, though it does not reinvent the genre. The critic notes the enjoyable precision and Fassbender’s performance but finds few surprises. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-killer-review-fassbender-is-a-slick-smiths-obsessed-assassin-85gsx2n72) ## HeyUGuys — Lisa Giles-Keddie Rating 4/5. 25 October 2023. Festival review. The critic praises it as a technically brilliant Fincher film with meticulous filmmaking, enigmatic character development, and strong performances, especially Fassbender's composed nihilist, though the conclusion feels rushed and somewhat unresolved. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-killer-review/) ## NME — Lou Thomas Rating 4/5. 27 October 2023. Fincher misses top-tier status but delivers an entertaining, crowd-pleasing hitman romp with slick action, clever procedural work and strong turns from Fassbender and Swinton. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-killer-review-david-fincher-3522760) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2023. The critic views the film as a stylish, unsentimental take on familiar assassin material that remains entertaining and accomplished despite its minimalist narrative and cynical worldview. He singles out the mid-film fight scene for particular praise as the director’s best use of handheld camerawork since Se7en. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2023/11/07/movies/the-killer-movie-review-netflix-david-fincher) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 7/10. 25 October 2023. The critic sees it as a lesser but still enjoyable Fincher work, a cold, calculating showcase of the director's precise style in a simple story of an assassin methodically handling tasks and complications. It praises the technical clarity and fun in watching the protagonist work, even if the humor and depth feel thin. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1430013/the-killer-review/) ## The Playlist Rating B-. 3 September 2023. Festival review. The review calls it a competently realized but orthodox homage to classic crime thrillers that lacks the visionary brilliance or twists of Fincher's best work, yet remains entertaining and well-made by a sharp technical team. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-killer-david-finchers-homage-to-the-classic-crime-thriller-with-michael-fassbender-is-entertaining-but-orthodox-venice/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2023. Fincher returns to familiar stylish territory with a slick revenge thriller that is formulaic and unsurprising. Fassbender's icy lead performance and one standout fight scene provide the main appeal. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a45778330/the-killer-review-netflix/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 18 November 2023. The review notes the film's bright, crisp adaptation with updated cultural references and arch humor, highlighting its compelling escape sequences and pattern-driven style while questioning the gender imbalance in violence and the impact of the voiceover narration. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-killer-2023-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## Deadline — Damon Wise 3 September 2023. Festival review. Fincher delivers a lean, mean hitman drama that hits the target with bewitching precision and jet-black absurdist humor. The film embraces perfection and provides satisfying escapism for fans and mainstream audiences alike. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/09/the-killer-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender-hitman-drama-1235535405/) ## The Wrap — Ben Croll 3 September 2023. Festival review. Fincher crafts a witty assassin thriller for the gig economy with icy crisp precision and near total formal command. The film is chilly-to-the-touch but wrings a great deal of wit from its frigid world through sharp voiceover and a Smiths soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-killer-review-david-fincher-michael-fassbender/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-killer.md