David Fincher brings his new 2023 movie The Killer to Netflix, adapting a much-loved series of graphic novels by Alexis “Matz” Nolent. The film sees Fincher in his element, with a tale of murder, revenge, and mystery, and, working from a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, the movie takes the comic book story and brings it to life in a stunning and brutal way.
Fincher is using a lot of the techniques that viewers are familiar with, and bringing his style to the proceedings. If you enjoyed the film and are looking for more information about its inspiration, or if you’re a fan of the graphic novels and want to see how well the adaptation fares, we have everything you might want to know.
What is the 2023 movie The Killer based on?
The film is based on a series of graphic novels, written by Alexis Nolent, known as Matz, and illustrator Luc Jacamon. The series follows the story of an unknown assassin, a job that does not go to plan, and a deadly feud against the people who employed him.
The story of The Killer would unfold throughout thirteen volumes and was soon translated and published in English, bringing the story to a wider audience. Publisher Archaia Studio Press would take the volumes and break them into two comic books that would run from 1998 to 2014. A sequel would appear in 2020, and continue until 2022.
The Killer by Matz and Luc Jacamon, translated by Matz and Edward Gauvin, with lettering by Marshall Dillon
Who plays The Killer?
The titular killer is played by Michael Fassbender, whom you may know from such films as Alien: Covenant and Eden Lake, but this is not the first time he has appeared in comic book adaptations. Fassbender has been in a couple of ropey X-Men movies, including X-Men First Class and Dark Phoenix.
RELATED: Where was The Killer filmed?
Whether or not Fassbender will make a transition into the Disney Marvel Cinematic Universe remains to be seen. After the release of The Marvels, it does look as if Marvel is pushing to relaunch X-Men. He was also in the incredibly popular film version of Frank Miller’s 300, directed by Zack Snyder, who would go on to try and create another shared comic book universe featuring the Justice League, including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Fassbender manages to carry The Killer, and provides a voice-over that emulates the wordy captions from the graphic novels. He seems comfortable with that material, but he has had a lot of practice working within this particular genre.
What rating does The Killer have?
The Killer is rated 15 in the UK and does contain bad language, some sexual scenes, and ultra-violence, so this is not one for the family to sit down to. In the U.S. it is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for strong violence, language, and brief sexuality.
Despite being adapted from a graphic novel, this film is aiming for a mature audience, so don’t be fooled by its comic book origin. The film may at times remind you of John Wick, but with the signature of Fincher layered through every scene.
RELATED: The Killer Ending Explained
