The Killer Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A hitwoman feels bad after accidentally blinding a singer and teams up with a cop to fight her boss, which somehow involves pigeons and a lot of unnecessary slow motion.

🍿 The Killer: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Zee

Zee, known as the “Queen of the Dead” in the Parisian underworld, works as a highly skilled assassin. She’s contracted by Finn, an Irishman, to eliminate rivals of crime lord Jules Gobert. Zee’s life, marked by violence, finds solace only in a few things: cryptic crossword puzzles with an elderly tailor named Tessier and a pet goldfish.

The Nightclub Mission and Jenn’s Injury

Zee is hired to take out a rival drug gang at a nightclub. During the hit, a young American singer named Jenn Clark is caught in the crossfire and blinded. Against her orders, Zee chooses to spare Jenn’s life, feeling remorse for her injury. This decision puts Zee on a collision course with Finn and the criminal underworld.

Sey’s Investigation and the Heroin Theft

Police inspector Sey begins investigating the nightclub shooting and Coco, Jenn’s boyfriend, who is involved in drug dealing. Coco’s death leads Sey to Jenn. He also uncovers Gobert’s involvement in a stolen heroin shipment belonging to Prince Majeb Bin Faheem, revealing a deeper criminal conspiracy. Finn is revealed to be the mastermind behind the heroin theft, seeking to control the Paris drug market.

Zee Protects Jenn

Zee rescues Jenn from an attempt on her life at the hospital, leading to a confrontation with Sey. Jenn reveals that she and Coco stole the heroin shipment, leading Zee to protect her. Zee lies to Finn about eliminating Jenn but is ultimately discovered, captured, and then later escapes Sey’s custody.

Alliance and Showdown

After escaping, Zee learns that Finn’s men have abducted Jenn. Finn then orchestrates Gobert’s murder and frames Sey, ordering Zee to kill Sey. Recognizing the set-up, Zee joins forces with Sey to take down Finn. They confront Finn at a church, setting up a drug exchange for Jenn.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Zee (Nathalie Emmanuel): A mysterious and infamous assassin known as the Queen of the Dead, who begins to question her life choices after refusing to kill a blinded young woman.
• Finn (Sam Worthington): Zee’s shadowy mentor and handler, who betrays her when she disobeys his orders.
• Jenn (Diana Silvers): A young singer who is accidentally blinded by Zee, leading to a complex relationship between the two.
• Sey (Omar Sy): A savvy police investigator who is determined to uncover the truth and becomes an unlikely ally to Zee.
• Prince Majeb Bin Faheem (Saïd Taghmaoui): An Arabian prince whose stolen heroin shipment sets off a chain of violent events in Paris.
• Gobert (Éric Cantona): A ruthless crime lord who employs Finn and is involved in the stolen heroin shipment.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Zee: “You’re empty … and I always have one left.” – Spoken by Zee, highlighting her ruthless nature and readiness to eliminate her targets.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $318,618

💥 The Killer Reviews

Personal Review

I was really excited for this remake, being a huge John Woo fan. While it has some cool action scenes and Nathalie Emmanuel is great, it just didn’t feel the same. The original had so much heart and emotion, and this felt a little flat. The slow-motion dove scenes felt forced. Overall, it’s watchable, but don’t expect it to reach the level of the original, which, for me, is one of the best action films ever made. I did love the fight in the church.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of John Woo’s action films”
  • “Viewers who enjoy action thrillers with a female lead”
  • “Those looking for a stylish, visually driven movie”
  • “Subscribers to Peacock streaming service”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense violence”
  • “Gunfights”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• ActionMovieFanatic.com: “While the action is stylish and Nathalie Emmanuel makes a compelling lead, this remake struggles to recapture the raw energy of the original. The plot feels convoluted, and the emotional depth is lacking. It’s a decent action flick, but falls short of Woo’s best work.
• HollywoodReporter: “John Woo revisits his classic, but the result is a mixed bag. Emmanuel delivers a solid performance, but the script is weak and the action sequences, while visually striking, lack the impact of the original. The film feels like a hollow imitation of its predecessor.
• IndieWire: “John Woo’s ‘The Killer’ is a stylish but ultimately disappointing remake. Nathalie Emmanuel shines as the conflicted assassin, but the film’s convoluted plot and lack of emotional depth prevent it from reaching the heights of the original.

Audience Reactions

Nathalie Emmanuel delivers a kick-ass performance as the lead assassin.: Most viewers enjoyed the action sequences and the stylish cinematography, especially the fight choreography.

The movie is a good action flick if you haven’t seen the original.: Audience liked the new modern twist, although most agree that the plot is still too convoluted and less impactful than the original.

Overall Consensus: A visually appealing but ultimately disappointing remake that fails to capture the essence and emotional depth of the original ‘The Killer’.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film is a remake of John Woo’s own 1989 Hong Kong action classic, ‘The Killer’.”
• “Nicolas Cage expressed interest in starring in a remake of ‘The Killer’ if John Woo directed it.”
• “The decision to film in Paris, instead of Los Angeles as originally planned, gives the remake a distinct European flavor.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Killer?

The Killer (2024) is currently streaming on Peacock. As a direct-to-streaming release, it is not available in theaters. Check Peacock’s subscription plans for viewing options. Digital purchase options may become available on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies in the future, so keep an eye on those stores for updates.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Killer, you might like these similar films:

• The Killer (1989): The original film directed by John Woo. A benchmark of heroic bloodshed action films.
• Léon: The Professional (1994): Features a professional killer forming an unlikely bond with a young girl.
• Nikita (1990): A female assassin is trained and used by the government, exploring similar themes of morality and redemption.

🛒 The Killer Related Products

• The Killer [Blu-ray] (1989): The original Hong Kong action masterpiece directed by John Woo, starring Chow Yun-Fat. A must-have for any serious action film collector. High Definition format brings out Woo’s classic visual style.
• The Art of John Woo: The Master of Action Filmmaking: A deep dive into the career of John Woo, exploring his iconic films, directorial style, and impact on the action genre. Filled with behind-the-scenes photos and insights. The book examines John Woo’s stylistic influence with a lot of great action film images.
• Hitman: Agent Nathalie Emmanuel Action Figure: Highly detailed 1/6 scale action figure of Nathalie Emmanuel as the Queen of the Dead, featuring realistic clothing and accessories from the movie. This is for adults, intended to be a collectibles item.
• The Killer – Limited Edition Movie Poster: High-quality print featuring iconic imagery from the movie, signed and numbered. A perfect addition to any movie lover’s collection. High-quality printing on archival paper.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Killer features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Let’s Live for Today” – performed by The Grass Roots
• “Parisian Nights” – performed by Marco Beltrami

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

THE KILLER Netflix Ending Explained

Confused by the ending of The Killer? This video breaks it all down, plus gives a great review of the film. Honestly, the comparison to Fincher’s other works is spot-on!

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