In The Killer, Director John Woo resurrects his famous 1989 film of the same name but swaps neon-lit Hong Kong for sumptuous Paris, and steel-faced Ah-jong (Chow Yun-fat) for banter-prone Zee (Nathalie Emmanuel). The result is less than stellar, but enjoyable nonetheless. The script feels contrived in some instances (“Never send a man to do a woman’s job!”) but electric in others. The latter is noticeable during Zee’s flirtatious scenes with Detective Say (Omar Sy), the most charismatic character in the film. Together, both exude a Mr. and Mrs. Smith sort of charm, where they’re both palpably in love with each other despite being clear enemies. “Will they or won’t they end up/kill each other?” is a strong (and sexy!) driver of plot; too bad it’s not the main focus of the film, weighed down as it is by its uneven flourishes.
Synopsis
Zee is a feared contract killer known as "the Queen of the Dead," but when she refuses to murder a young blind woman, she finds herself hunted both by criminal colleagues and a determined police detective.
Storyline
When legendary hitman Zee (Nathalie Emmanuel) refuses to kill a lounge singer (Diana Silvers), she’s hunted down by fellow assassins and a detective (Omar Sy) who is determined to solve the case.
TLDR
Don’t get me wrong, this is much better than most of the straight-to-streaming films out there, but it still lacks the meat and bones to be a strong thriller.
What stands out
The shootout scene in the hospital is epic—one of the most graceful Mexican standoffs in a while.
