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The Killer
Movie

The Killer

2023 • Action, Adventure, Crime

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

Solitary, cold, methodical and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he's losing his mind, if not his cool.

Overall Series Review

The film focuses on the hyper-professional, nihilistic mindset of a lone assassin whose disciplined world collapses after a critical failure. The narrative is a clinical, procedural journey of revenge and self-preservation, characterized by the protagonist's constant internal monologue of cynical rules that his own actions immediately contradict. The movie’s central thematic concern is not one of identity politics or social justice, but a critique of modern moral detachment, corporate emptiness (as the killer uses Amazon, McDonald's, and other generic corporate tools), and the delusion of a sociopath who believes himself to be 'one of the few' when he is ultimately 'one of the many.' It subverts the 'cool' assassin trope by revealing his deep fallibility and hypocrisy. The story contains minimal focus on gender, race, or sexual ideology, instead concentrating on the universality of human hypocrisy and the psychological strain of extreme moral relativism.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The film does not rely on intersectional hierarchy or immutable characteristics; characters are defined by their professional roles in the crime world (The Killer, The Handler, The Expert, The Brute, The Client). The casting is largely colorblind to the mercenary nature of the plot. The narrative avoids political lecturing on race or privilege, focusing instead on a critique of corporate greed and consumerism.

Oikophobia4/10

The film critiques elements of contemporary global corporate culture and late capitalism, showing the assassin utilizing generic, soulless brands like Amazon and McDonald's. This is a critique of modern globalized systems and moral detachment rather than an outright demonization of historical Western civilization or ancestors. The general setting is one of a dystopic modern world, raising the score from a 1, but it is not a primary focus.

Feminism2/10

Gender dynamics are not central to the plot. The female characters introduced are a victim/partner, a secretary, and a competent assassin, 'The Expert.' The story's inciting incident is driven by the male protagonist's failure and the subsequent attack on his female partner. No 'Girl Boss' messaging is centered, nor is there an explicit anti-family or anti-natalist theme; the assassin is motivated by revenge for a loved one.

LGBTQ+1/10

No elements of alternative sexual ideology or deconstruction of the nuclear family are present in the narrative. The assassin's relationship is with a woman, and the plot makes no reference to gender identity or sexual orientation as a theme for any character.

Anti-Theism5/10

The protagonist's entire ethos is based on moral relativism and a Nietzschean nihilism, constantly repeating that morality is subjective and his actions are insignificant. The film presents this moral vacuum through its main character, which aligns directly with the 10/10 definition’s focus on 'Morality is subjective.' However, the narrative arc shows this code to be a delusion, suggesting the film critiques, rather than promotes, the nihilism, leading to a middle-ground score for exploring but not fully endorsing the spiritual vacuum.