Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, stylish hitman story is shallow but never boring.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Killer
What's the Story?
In THE KILLER, the titular killer (Michael Fassbender) is an assassin for hire who's on his latest job in Paris. He narrates the minutiae of his work, his preferred mental state, his methods for avoiding evidence, etc. But after prepping and waiting for several days, he squeezes the trigger -- and misses his target. The fallout begins almost immediately. He returns to his hideout in the Dominican Republic and finds it ransacked and his companion (Sophie Charlotte) brutally injured. He begins an intricate plan of revenge, which means tracking down every single person involved, no matter how powerful or how well-protected they are. But can he stick to his regimented principles, or will passion take over?
Is It Any Good?
This story of a lone contract killer is shallow, familiar, and based on pessimistic and narrow philosophies of life, but it's rich with craft and style. The Killer moves beautifully and is never boring. After a career spent exploring violence and hubris in twisty, complex ways, filmmaker David Fincher offers perhaps his simplest work yet in this stripped-down thriller. It's based on a French graphic novel by Alexis "Matz" Nolent and Luc Jacamon (whose work also provided the basis for Walter Hill's Bullet to the Head), and it borrows from movies like Grosse Pointe Blank, The American, and Gemini Man, stories of lone wolves and their meticulous methods.
The Killer is broken up into neat chapters that are set in various locations and peopled with characters that don't even have names. At some point, many viewers may find themselves wondering what it all means and coming up empty. But watching the title killer execute his intricate plans, an ace up his sleeve at every turn, is positively mesmerizing. Fincher's crisp editing and visual storytelling are as taut and lean and muscular as Fassbender himself. Ultimately, The Killer may not offer any lingering deep thoughts or solutions to the mysteries of life, but it certainly hits its target.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Killer's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be satisfying? Why? Can it ever truly solve a problem?
What is the killer character trying to teach viewers with his narration? What, if anything, does he learn in the end?
How is drinking depicted? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 27, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : November 10, 2023
- Cast : Michael Fassbender , Charles Parnell , Tilda Swinton
- Director : David Fincher
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, language and brief sexuality
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate