The Killer 2023

As the sun dips below the City of Light, a calculating professional assassin (Michael Fassbender), shrouded in an aura of precision and patience, assumes his vigil in a Parisian hotel room. His mission: to eliminate a target whose arrival is imminent, yet tantalizingly unpredictable. Amidst the sterile confines of his temporary lair, he indulges in the mundane rituals of a German tourist - feasting on local cuisine, practicing yoga, and immersing himself in the melancholic melodies of The Smiths. His handler, Edward “Eddie” Hodges (Charles Parnell), a seasoned attorney and former university professor, orchestrates the operation from afar, emphasizing that success hinges on the successful completion of the task.

As the hours tick by, our protagonist becomes increasingly entranced in his surroundings, observing the rhythms of Parisian life with an almost anthropological fascination. But beneath this veneer of detachment lies a calculating mind, meticulously crafting redundancies into his plan to ensure maximum efficiency. Yet, for five long nights, he is forced to endure the monotony of waiting, punctuated only by the occasional phone call with Hodges.

On the sixth night, fate intervenes in the form of a dominatrix (Monique Ganderton), accompanied by the very individual our assassin has been instructed to eliminate. In a momentary lapse of judgment, he misfires, and the dominatrix falls victim to his misplaced precision. As chaos ensues, our protagonist flees on an e-scooter, eluding the authorities while disposing of his arsenal.

In a stark contrast to the calculated calm of his Parisian lair, our assassin’s return to his home and hideout in the Dominican Republic is met with a scene of utter devastation. His girlfriend, Magdala (Sophie Charlotte), lies critically injured in an intensive care unit, her brother Marcus (Emiliano Pernía) vigilantly watching over her. The story unfolds like a macabre tapestry, as our protagonist learns that Magdala was brutally attacked and interrogated by two ruthless assassins - one of whom was a woman - who left no stone unturned in their quest for information.

As the truth slowly begins to reveal itself, our assassin discovers boot prints scattered throughout his hideout, testifying to the brazen audacity of these interlopers. The trail leads him on a journey of discovery, as he uncovers the unsettling reality that Magdala managed to escape and injure one of her tormentors before fleeing the scene. With the scent of vengeance now driving him forward, our assassin sets out to track down those responsible for the brutal assault on his loved one.

As the Killer’s wrath intensifies, they set their sights on Leo (Gabriel Polanco), the unsuspecting taxi driver who unwittingly ferried the assassins to their target. Leo, having picked up “The Brute” (Sala Baker) and his enigmatic accomplice, a woman with a striking resemblance to a Q-Tip (Tilda Swinton), to a private airfield, drove them to the Killer’s secluded property before returning them to their destination. The Killer’s brutal efficiency is palpable as they eliminate Leo, prompting a departure from their usual modus operandi and a decision to track down the two hired guns.

Seeking answers, the Killer travels to Hodges’ office in New Orleans, Louisiana, donning a custodial uniform to blend in with the background. This unexpected visit uncovers a fascinating connection between Hodges and the Killer, as they once shared a mentor-mentee relationship, with Hodges encouraging the Killer to venture out into the world of contract killing.

As the Killer forces Dolores (Kerry O’Malley), Hodges’ secretary, to restrain her boss and herself, they destroy the records of their work, revealing a web of deceit and retribution. According to Hodges, he had made amends with a powerful individual who was understandably enraged, never anticipating that the Killer would return to exact revenge.

Hodges’ attempts to persuade the Killer to leave are futile, as they resort to torture, using a nail gun to extract the names of the hit-men from their victim. However, Hodges proves stubborn and dies sooner than expected, leaving the Killer without the desired information.

Dolores, sensing an opportunity, offers to reveal the identities of the assassins in exchange for a “non-suspicious” death that would allow her children to claim life insurance benefits. The Killer agrees, but their empathy is short-lived as they snap Dolores’ neck and precipitate her fall down the stairs, making it appear as if she suffered an unfortunate accident.

The Killer then disposes of Hodges’ body on a ship, marking the end of one chapter in their relentless pursuit. As the sun sets over St. Petersburg, Florida, the Killer sets out to track down “The Brute”, identifying him by his distinctive limp. With unrelenting focus, they follow The Brute as he socializes at a casino before returning late at night, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown.

As the Killer’s sedated pit bull lay helpless within his own walls, he attempted to eliminate it with a ruthless efficiency, only to be caught off guard by the beast’s sudden revival. In a fierce struggle, the two combatants clashed, and the Killer was shocked to recognize the face of his formidable opponent - the Brute. With a swift shot to silence the Brute, the Killer fled his burning home, leaving nothing but smoldering ruin in his wake.

Seeking vengeance in Beacon, New York, the Killer stalked the 2nd assassin, expertly tracking her movements until she left her residence and entered a luxurious gourmet restaurant. The Killer confronted “Q-Tip” - a seasoned operative notorious for her precision and cunning. As they shared a whiskey-soaked ‘last supper,’ Q-Tip probed the Killer’s motivations, questioning the logic behind his relentless pursuit. She attempted to reason that the address was merely a target, devoid of personal vendetta, and that she had no involvement in the Brute’s brutal treatment of Magdala.

Unfazed by her words, the Killer continued his crusade, ultimately silencing Q-Tip with a swift and merciless strike. Her concealed knife, now rendered useless, lay exposed as the Killer revealed his true nature.

The Killer’s travels took him to Chicago, where he would confront the elusive client - Henderson “Clay” Claybourne, a billionaire venture capitalist residing in an opulent penthouse. Under the pseudonym Jefferson, the Killer transferred his financial assets to the Dominican Republic and meticulously observed Claybourne’s routine. Armed with tools acquired online, he successfully cloned Claybourne’s key-card and infiltrated his high-rise abode.

Confronting Claybourne at gunpoint, the Killer demanded an explanation for the retaliatory hit. Claybourne claimed a lack of personal animosity towards him, citing Hodges’ botched operation as the true culprit. According to Claybourne, Hodges had sold him on the idea of a “cleanup” to prevent any blowback from his target.

The Killer spared Claybourne’s life, warning him that he would succumb to a “slow death” should he ever attempt retribution. Later, the Killer returned to the Dominican Republic, where he sat beside the recovering Magdala, her wounds slowly healing as she regained her strength.