the killer

Streaming Sleepers: In THE KILLER, John Woo’s Revival Delivers With An Acquired Taste

3 min. read John Woo’s latest iteration of The Killer is now streaming on Peacock. The film is Woo’s own reimagining of his 1989 Hong Kong action classic with Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee and Sally Yeh. I haven’t seen the OG film in ages to draw a comparison for this write-up, but I’m still drawn to speak on its behalf given some of the hate its gotten. Indeed, the film isn’t meant for everyone, like with most films of its kind, but there’s no question that Woo draws from his own strengths to dish out a fascinating take with a lead in Nathalie Emmanuel, who proves through and through here that she can take a lead action role to task. Emmanuel is a covert hitwoman named Zee, who works for shadowy handler Finn, played by Sam Worthington. When she’s assigned to take out a target, innocent bystander and songstress Jenn […]

THE KILLER Trailer: John Woo Tests The Waters With A Western Revamp Of His Hit Hong Kong Classic!

Lee B. Golden III

John Woo is back again. I enjoyed his most recent entry with Silent Night, and while I’m certain opinions will stir today as the official trailer for Woo’s The Killer makes the rounds, I’m optimistic. From the Oscar® winning producer of Oppenheimer, the kinetic action thriller stars Emmy nominee Nathalie Emmanuel (The Fast Saga, Game of Thrones) as Zee, a mysterious and infamous assassin known, and feared, in the Parisian underworld as the Queen of the Dead. But when, during an assignment from her shadowy mentor and handler (Avatar’s Sam Worthington), Zee refuses to kill a blinded young woman (Diana Silvers; Ma, Booksmart) in a Paris nightclub, the decision will disintegrate Zee’s alliances, attract the attention of a savvy police investigator (Golden Globe nominee Omar Sy; Jurassic World franchise, Lupin), and plunge her into a sinister criminal conspiracy that will set her on a collision course with her own past. […]

THE KILLER: John Woo’s Remake Of His 1989 Hong Kong Hit Has Already Wrapped Filming

Lee B. Golden III

Remakes and reboots are the center of Rebecca Leffler’s Cannes market coverage over the weekend at Screendaily. Buried in her editorial is the news that John Woo’s revival of The Killer has already wrapped production in Paris. Matthew Stuecken and Josh Campbell, and Eran Creevy adapted the script which centers on an assassin’s efforts to make amends by earning money to help restore the eyesight of a beautiful singer be blinded in a gunfight. Chow Yun-Fat starred in the 1989 original opposite Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, and Kenneth Tsang. Woo’s root flick shot to acclaim through his signature gritty allure and stylish action, becoming part of a staple of golden age Hong Kong films that continue to influence and inspire audiences and creatives to this day. Multiple hands and individuals tinkered with visions for a remake for more than two decades before Woo decided to stake his claim at the […]

THE KILLER: Michael Fassbender Is A Man With A Plan In The Crackling First Teaser!

Lee B. Golden III

David Fincher’s newest effort now arrives with an official trailer for The Killer. Michael Fassbender stars in the film adapted from Alexis “Matz” Nolent and artist Luc Jacamon’s 1998 graphic novel with a script by Se7en scribe Andrew Kevin Walker. After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal. Fassbender is joined by Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Kerry O’Malley, Sophie Charlotte, Sala Baker, Emiliano Pernía, and Gabriel Polanco. The first poster was released on Monday, also signaling its pending theatrical run this October (TBA), and launching on Netflix on November 10. The Killer is currently programmed to premiere at the 80th edition of La Biennale di Venezia on September 3.

FESTIVAL NITS DE CINEMA ORIENTAL DE VIC XX: Action Thrills, Suspense, Drama, Animated Gems And More On The Way For July!

Lee B. Golden III

The 20th edition of the Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental de Vic is coming and will surely lend a few surprises this summer. In the meantime, the festival’s six-day line-up has been announced as of Monday along with the launch of a new festival promo from celebrated animator and 2022 FesNits juror, Júlia Olivella (The French Dispatch). This year’s FesNits has lined up a sweet list of titles out of South Korea – namely July Jung’s drama Next Sohee starring Bae Doo-na, Lee Jae-won’s Thunderbird, Park So-dam starrer Special Delivery, Choi Jae-hoon’s The Killer which is an absolute blast, Park Jae-beom’s animated stop motion fantasy, Mother Land, and Park Dong-hee’s long-awaited hostage thriller, Drive. The latter is especially interesting since early poster art indicates it was intended to be a ’22 release although its currently been screened at Brussels, signaling a commercial delay until further notice. Busting at the seams […]

Streaming Sleepers: Jang Hyuk Is THE KILLER, Now On Tubi!

Lee B. Golden III

Ui-gang is a retired hitman whose wife takes a trip and leaves him with her friend’s 17-year-old daughter, Yoon-ji. He looks after her when Yoon-ji is in a dangerous situation. Choi Jae-hoon’s celebrated actioner of 2022 with lead actor Jang Hyuk in The Killer is currently enjoying a physical media release in other territories. It remains to be seen if that will be the case for the U.S., while folks are now welcome to plop in front of their screens at home to catch it on FAST platform, Tubi TV. I’ve said plenty about this film on social media, in addition to my coverage overall, and thankfully I’m not alone in this film’s reception since last summer. Honestly, I wish this film had a better promotional campaign as it’s Hyuk’s biggest publicity move in the states since us westerners caught wind of him a la MTV’s remix of Volcano High, […]

THE KILLER: Is Jang Hyuk’s Latest A Knock On Hollywood’s Door?

Lee B. Golden III

At some point, you have to wonder just when actor Jang Hyuk will make his crossover into Hollywood. The best or rather closest inflection point at one time would have been his latest action thriller feature, The Killer, believe it or not. Enter South Korean sensation Jang Hyuk who plays a notorious hitman who’s long since found happiness in a quieter, much more idyllic life as a married man with a business and his own home office. Tasked by his vacationing wife to watch over his friend’s daughter, it isn’t long before the young rebellious girl finds herself in danger, with our hero thrust once more into action to rescue the girl by any brutal, bloody and violent means necessary. The film is chock-filled with stirring and slick action and brutality with Hyuk and filmmaker Choi Jae-hoon now two-for-two since 2019’s The Swordsman. Par for the course is our anti-hero’s […]

THE KILLER: Jang Hyuk’s Award-Winning Action Thriller Now Available To Pre-Order On iTunes

Lee B. Golden III

It’s the film following up on the successful 2019 sword thriller, The Swordsman. It’s the film that found Korean sensation Jang Hyuk trekking across oceans to tend to audiences in Hollywood and ultimately in New York City. It’s the film that earned the action star the Daniel A. Craft award for excellence in action cinema. And now…it’s the film you will get to see courtesy of its upcoming iTunes release from March 7, that is, The Killer, from director Choi Jae-hoon. Hyuk plays a former assassin-turned-businessman living the quiet work life. With his wife and her friend set for a trip of their own and promising to babysit her friend’s rebellious daughter, it’s not long before she finds herself in danger at the hands of an underground trafficking ring, forcing our hero out of retirement and back into his former skillset to unleash bloody, bone-crushing hell to save her life. […]

Omar Sy To Tackle John Woo’s THE KILLER In New Reimagining For Peacock

Lee B. Golden III

The Takedown and Jurrasic World: Dominion actor Omar Sy will lead The Killer for John Woo’s newest directorial effort for Peacock, as reported by the trades on Thursday. Chow Yun-Fat starred in the original 1989 movie which centers on an assassin who accidentally damages the eyes of the singer during a shootout and decides to perform one last hit to pay for her operation. When he’s double-crossed, he teams up with a cop to get even. The film was posied for a remake twenty years ago and circled a number of screenwriters, potential stars and directors, the latest being actress Lupita Nyong’o who boarded the project in early 2019 and left it later that year. Matthew Stuecken and Josh Campbell (“10 Cloverfield Lane”) penned the screenplay along with as Eran Creevy (“Welcome to the Punch,” “Collide”) and Brian Helgeland (“42,” “Legend,” “Spenser Confidential”). A streaming date is expected for 2023 with a release date pending for Woo’s recently-completed actioner, Silent […]

Fantasia XXVI Review: THE KILLER, Jang Hyuk Steers A Cold-Blooded, Action-Packed Thrillride!

Lee B. Golden III

Originally published August 2: After their success with The Swordsman, agreeably, it would only make sense that the respective star and director of that film would join forces for another venture. Thus, we have Choi Jae-hoon’s latest, The Killer, a ubiquitous production that has since gone on to see South Korean actor Jang Hyuk on a major stateside promotional tour for the film this summer. Invariably, the film does play on some familiar action movie tropes and even lends a jocular nod to a particular 2010 action thriller that fans of South Korean action would immediately recognize. It certainly doesn’t waste any time inviting a brief moment of our hero, Yi-gang (Jang), laying waste to a small group of hooligans in an action sequence that plays out in full way later into the film. Evidently, this all stems from the film’s key premise, which sees our protagonist eventually leading a […]

THE KILLER: Catch The Official Trailer For The New Action-Packed Thriller Starring Jang Hyuk!

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Jang Hyuk‘s reunion with The Swordsman helmer Choi Jae-hun is turning out some great prospects this year. Their latest film, The Killer, has set sail for releases this summer with screening throughout North Americas, including recently in Los Angeles, and this month in time for the twentieth New York Asian Film Festival, with Hyuk in attendance to receive the Daniel A. Craft award for Excellence In Action Cinema in both films. Long story short, it’s a damn good time to be a fan of Jang Hyuk, with The Killer already striking buzz with folks who’ve already screened the film, and while a brief U.S. short promo launched a few weeks ago, it now comes an official trailer over at Apple courtesy of Wide Lens Pictures. A select-theatrical release has been set for July 13, while folks keen on joining the NYAFF crowd can do so at the Walter Reade […]

THE KILLER: Jang Hyuk Awakens With Action Star Prowess In The Official U.S. Teaser Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

https://youtu.be/OHG9uvoiyFg The Swordsman helmer Choi Jae-hoon’s newest action adventure thriller novel adaptation, The Killer, is proudly getting its theatrical release in the U.S. on July from Wide Lens Pictures and Shaw Entertainment. Collider exclusively shared the official trailer which you can view above. Ui-gang is a hit man who has decided to retire. He has a nice house and all the money he needs, but one day his girlfriend takes a trip to Jeju Island and leaves him with a request. Her companion on the trip has a 17-year old daughter Yoon-ji who will be left alone during their three week vacation. Ui-gang reluctantly agrees to look after Yoon-ji and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble. But she does get into trouble. Yoon-ji is not a bad kid, but she makes some poor choices, and before she realizes it, she finds herself in a situation far more dangerous than […]

THE KILLER: Jang Hyuk Is The Man In Black In The Newest Poster

Lee B. Golden III

Basic black is pretty much the main theme here in what we now see with the newest official poster for Choi Jae-hoon’s new film, The Killer (dubbed regionally as The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves To Die). The film, which stars Jang Hyuk and is based on a novel by Bang Jin-ho, was recently acquired by Wide Lens Pictures for its U.S. release to coincide with its July release in South Korean theaters. Hyuk plays a retired hitman forced back into his former trade when, after being charged with the care of his wife’s friend’s daughter with the two on a trip to Jeju Island, the young girl is suddenly kidnapped by a trafficking ring. The film marks a reunion between Hyuk and Choi who previously paired on period actioner, The Swordsman. Also starring are martial arts star Bruce Khan (Revenger), and actress Lee Seo-young (SomeAir), along witb Lee Seung-joon (Vanishing), Bang Eun-jung (Twenty […]

Jang Hyuk Actioner THE KILLER Sets Korean And U.S. Releases In July, Lands More Territories

Lee B. Golden III

Choi Jae-hun’s latest action thriller, The Killer, is already running on high after screening for the Far East Film Festival this year, and closing multiple deals in Europe and throughout Asia in the last few months. With sales brand M-Line Distribution keeping the momentum going at the Marché du Film this month, we now have word from Screendaily‘s Jean Noh that the film will go to Wide Lens Pictures for a same-day release in accordance with its South Korean release through on July 6. Other acquisitions were taken by Trinity CineAsia for its UK release, as well as Middle East through Vox Cinemas, CIS through Vlg Film and Italy via Blue Swan Entertainment. Previous territories include (Klockworx), Hong Kong and Southeast Asia (Clover Films), Taiwan (Movie Cloud), and in German-speaking territories (Splendid), as well as the Netherlands and Switzerland. Dates for all remain pending. Pairing once more with his The […]

THE KILLER: John Woo’s Action Classic Heads For A Reimagining At Peacock Next Year

Lee B. Golden III

John Woo fans have more to celebrate following the auteur’s 75th birthday, specificially for folks who are subscribed to NBCUniversal streamer Peacock with the announcement of a remake of 1989 action hit, The Killer. Chow Yun-Fat starred in the original which centers on an assassin who accidentally damages the eyes of the singer during a shootout and decides to perform one last hit to pay for her operation. The film was posied for a remake twenty years ago and circled a number of screenwriters, potential stars and directors, the latest being actress Lupita Nyong’o who boarded the project in early 2019 and left it later that year. Having proliferated himself as an auteur of ‘bullet ballet’ action cinema with The Killer and other hits like A Better Tomorrow and Hard-Boiled, Woo went on to carry over his Hong Kong accolades to the Western world, working with stars like Jean-Claude Van […]

THE KILLER International Trailer: When Hitman Jang Hyuk Retires, Let Him…Or Else!

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Jang Hyuk will be banging it up for this month’s installation of the Far East Film Festival with two titles. One is Tomb Of The River. The other is much more important as it’s the latest from the actor along with director Choi Jae-hun for an action-packed look at the official trailer for The Killer. The hit man’s last mission: Keep the girl safe and sound. Ui-kang is a retired hit man. While his wife goes on a trip with her friend, she asks him a special favor to take care of her friend’s daughter. He doesn’t want to be bothered by the teenage girl but Yoon-ji gets stuck with juvenile delinquents and Ui-kang unavoidably uses a little bit of violence to protect her. However strangely, the juvenile delinquents are found dead and things start to get serious. Even worse, Yoon-ji is kidnapped by a teenager trafficking unit and […]

THE KILLER: Jang Hyuk Goes Hitman In The Newest Thriller With ‘The Swordsman’ Director

Lee B. Golden III

You probably wouldn’t have guessed what actor Jang Hyuk was up to at this point given the more idiomatic title used for his latest reunion with The Swordsman helmer Choi Jae-hoon. Nevertheless, the two are indeed back together and have since shot new action thriller, The Killer (quite the palatable choice here for action fans, I allege), which is now in post-production as of its most recent launch at EFM. Choi’s The Killer is reportedly based on a novel by Bang Jin-ho, and stars Jang as Bang Yi-gang, a hitman retiree, then asked by his wife’s friend to look after her teenage daughter while the two ladies are away on a trip. Things go haywire when our ex-hitman is forced to use a little violence to protect the young girl from juvenile delinquents, only to get pulled back in deeper when the assailants are murdered, and the girl suddenly gets […]

News Briefs: ARMY OF THE DEAD Teaser; Netflix Calls BLUFF, Spots THE MOTHERSHIP And THE KILLER; WB Nabs BLUE BEETLE Director; ECHO 8 Wraps; New Spidey Title

Lee B. Golden III

● Netflix officially launched its teaser on Thursday for Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead, a new post-apocalyptic heist thriller that sees a band of mercenaries pull off an impossible heist in the middle of a zombie outbreak. The film stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Raúl Castillo, Michael Cassidy, and Garret Dillahunt. The film streams May 21. ● Matt Charman, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind Bridge Of Spies, will take the helm for sci-fi thriller, The Mothership, from Netflix and MRC. The film has cast upcoming Bruised and Moonfall actress Halle Berry as a fearless woman who embarks on a journey with her children to find her mysteriously-disappeared husband after discovering a strange extraterrestrial object under their home. Automatik’s Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones will produce, with Berry exec producing with Danny Stillman. (Collider) ● David Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker, […]

John Woo: ‘My Dream Is To Make A Western’

Lee B. Golden III

It’s almost surprising that acclaimed action auteur John Woo hasn’t found himself in the throes of a Western film production yet. It’s not for lack of trying either considering his willful transition in the early 1990s to work on Universal Pictures’ Hard Boiled and enduring through a great deal of bureaucracy to release his cut of the film; It’s imaginable that this could have been a stepping stone toward that goal at the time for Woo in his post-Hong Kong career, although relocating to China after several productions in the U.S. made it pretty clear that at least tentatively, it wasn’t meant to be. With any luck though, those long-awaited dreams of doing a Western may eventually come to pass. Woo revealed such an interest in an in-depth interview published at The Hollywood Reporter on Friday by Pete Keeley. The interview connotated the 25th anniversary of the release of Woo’s […]

Hong Kong Action Classic Redo, THE KILLER, Circles Lupita Nyong’o To Star

Lee B. Golden III

John Woo’s latest international thriller novel re-adaptation, Manhunt, opens in North America on Netflix this Friday. It’s a noteworthy mention considering the film is one of two that the celebrated director had been kicking around in the last several years – specifically at least one other title being his Hong Kong action classic, The Killer. The film opened in 1989 and became a heroic bloodshed hit with actor Chow Yun-Fat in the role of a hitman who accidentally blinds a club singer during a shootout. The romance that ensues finds itself endangered when the exit job he takes to pay for her corneal transplant lands him in a deadly double-cross, forcing him to protect her with the help of the cop already hunting him down. Chow, already a rising star following the John Woo/Tsui Hark-shepherded A Better Tomorrow, became synonymous with the bullet ballet genre for many a film thereafter. […]