Cast of The Killer
The Killer Ratings & Reviews
- Thomas LindemansApril 20, 2025Great movie, great story and lots of action
- Chris CMarch 7, 2025It's passable as an action movie, but I was expecting—well, hoping for—much more from a John Woo film. It has the classic "slow motion dove" and "old, abandoned church" Woo signatures, but that's about it. Some of the fight scenes are fun, but the special effects felt cheesy and over the top, to the point of pulling you out of the action. This is a remake that absolutely did not need to happen. Do yourself a favor and watch the 1989 original instead, which still holds up as an absolute classic and fantastic action movie. On the plus side, seeing Omar Sy here did make me want to go re-watch "The Intouchables", in which he was wonderful. And this also reminded me of how excellent the identically-named 2022 "The Killer" from South Korea is. That one's easily one of the best action movies of this century so far.
- TitaniusAnglesmithFebruary 9, 2025Awesome John Woo film!
- jackmeatOctober 19, 2024My quick rating - 5.8/10. This unnecessary 2024 remake feels like a tribute to John Woo’s earlier brilliance but ends up being a lesser version of what made his original work exceptional. The film follows an elite Asian assassin who accidentally blinds a beautiful singer and then risks everything to protect her. Along the way, she partners with an LAPD detective who is hunting her down. While the premise sounds intense, it doesn’t hit the emotional or action-packed highs you’d expect from Woo. It’s hard to understand why he even chose to remake his own classic. The 2024 version feels more like a self-parody, bringing back every cliché that action films borrowed from him over the years. From the slow-motion shots to the dove symbolism, it’s all here—but without the depth or flair that made them so iconic. It almost feels like Woo is making fun of his own style, which diminishes the impact. Nathalie Emmanuel does a decent job as the assassin, but she never quite convinces as an elite one. Her performance is more competent than commanding, which weakens the sense of threat and intensity that should come from someone in her role. Even if you haven't seen the original, the plot is laid out so simplistically that nothing comes as a surprise. Every twist is telegraphed well in advance, making the film feel formulaic. The action scenes, while solid, don’t rise to the level expected from Woo. They are competently shot and have some flair, but none of the sequences feel as masterful or groundbreaking as his previous work. Ultimately, this remake just wasn’t necessary. It brings nothing new to the table and doesn’t do justice to the legacy of Woo’s original. This is a film that’s competent but lacks the punch and innovation that once made John Woo a master of the genre. And if you are thinking of remaking Hard Boiled next, PLEASE do it justice.
