The Killer

About

The Killer is a Hong Kong gangster film from 1989 that is regarded as a classic of the heroic bloodshed genre. It was directed by John Woo, who decisively shaped the genre with his Hong Kong gangster films, and stars Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Chu Kong, Kenneth Sang and Shing Fui On. In the film, professional hitman Jeff is given the job of taking out a powerful Triad boss, but the supposedly routine assignment draws him into a dangerous conspiracy and a bitter power struggle among the boss's possible successors. Jeff himself becomes the target of a rival killer, his path keeps crossing those of Inspector Lee and Randy, mistrust grows into an unusual friendship, and in the end the three of them take on the powerful underworld organisation together.

Written by a model, sources: lichtblick-kino.org

Critics

9.0Outstanding

Critics praise the stylised 'bullet ballet' action, emotional intensity and Woo's signature flourishes as among the finest ever filmed. Little is faulted, beyond the deliberately overblown melodrama and extreme violence.

Reviews: The Movie Buff, We Have Issues

Trailer