MOVIE NEWS – The final shot of The Killer hints at a remarkable detail about Fassbener’s eerily stoic protagonist in David Fincher’s new Netflix film. WARNING: SPOILERS follow!

The last shot of The Killer hints at Michael Fassbender’s remarkable acting approach in David Fincher’s latest film. Fincher’s highly-anticipated thriller hit Netflix on Friday, November 12, 2023, after a limited theatrical release that began at the end of October. It soon topped Netflix’s top 10 movies. In his first collaboration with the acclaimed director of Se7en, Gone Girl and The Social Network, Fassbender clearly brought his entire arsenal and skills to the role of the eerily stoic protagonist known simply as “The Killer.”

The Killer is also Fincher’s second feature film collaboration with screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, who wrote the original script for Se7en.

Fincher and Walker also collaborated on Love, Death & Robots, Season 3 Episode 2, “Bad Traveling,” before reteaming for The Killer.

The Killer winking may indicate that he has regained his humanity

In the last frame of The Killer, Fassbender’s protagonist finally finds peace after his revenge. He rests with his love, Magdala (Sophie Charlotte), in the Dominican Republic. Through the side of his sunglasses, viewers can still catch a glimpse of his unblinking eyes, staring at some unknown nothingness or a far distant target.

With no danger to focus on in his new paradise, the Killer finally breaks his stoic and unmoving signature face and lets his eyes twitch before closing his eyes as the film fades to black.

This is a seemingly deliberate decision by Fincher, Walker and Fassbender. The protagonist eventually withdraws complete control over his facial muscles and mannerisms. The entire film captured the extreme length and demands of the dangerous work. To accomplish his goals, the character had to manually slow his heartbeat and act with unyielding precision. The eye twitch at the film’s end gives viewers the impression that the Killer is starting to let himself go. It allows you to act less robotic and more like an average human.

Why didn’t Michael Fassbender blink at the camera during filming?

According to Variety, Oscar-winning cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, who worked on The Killer, noticed that Fassbender never blinked in front of the camera during the entire shoot. Fassbender is known for his meticulous and demanding method of acting techniques. He even annoyed his co-stars and other colleagues during his career. For example, his former classmate Tom Hardy at the Drama Center in London (via Daily Actor). Fassbender’s complete devotion to The Killer’s unclothed and terrifying protagonist made the film better. It also suited Fincher’s notoriously ruthless directorial style…

Source: Variety, Daily Actor