Guillermo Del Toro sings praise of David Fincher’s The Killer on social media

Last Updated on November 21, 2023

David Fincher’s new film, The Killer, has now been released, and many are glowing about its slick filmmaking. Michael Fassbender stars as a contract killer who is particular in his ways and the intricate procedure in which he goes about his job. While many may feel the plot itself is simplistic, the Netflix film features Fincher’s distinct style. In a review from our own Chris Bumbray, he expresses, “As usual for a Fincher movie, The Killer is impeccably crafted, running a lean two hours and sporting Fincher’s signature cold, dark look via DP Erik Messerschmidt. The score by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor is more sparse than usual, and the sound design is intricate enough that if you get a chance to see this theatrically, you should.”

Among the fans of the film, director Guillermo Del Toro is someone in particular who the movie really won over. The Shape of Water director went onto his social media to sing praise for David Fincher’s new piece of work. Del Toro’s tweet reads, “The Killer is a beautiful Bronson movie if penned by Sartre and filmed by Melville with the briskness of a Siegel. I simply love, love, love when Fincher swings with a mean genre beat. Nimble and clockwork precise and fun. The breeziest film I have seen in a long time. It’s great when you can see a film and a movie at the same time.”

Guillermo Del Toro would also recently glow about another director when he spoke to IndieWire about stepping in as a backup for William Friedkin on his final film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. Del Toro says of Friedkin, “He is an original. He blends the lessons of documentary with complex and precise technology and narrative prowess. Every decision he makes is infused with his idiosyncrasies, his personality. Look at the ending of The French Connection — that final frame he holds, brutal, mercilessly elliptical — or the final minutes of The Exorcist, how he lands the audience softly out of the experience but never loses the mystery. Then try and figure out the mastery in Sorcerer or To Live and Die in L.A.“

The Killer sports a cast with acting talents such as Michael Fassbender, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton. The screenplay is written by Andrew Kevin Walker. His script is based on the graphic novel series The Killer written by Alexis Nolent (a.k.a Matz) and illustrated by Luc Jacamon, originally published in the French language by Editions Casterman. And Ceán Chaffin is credited as the producer.