4K Ultra HD Review – The Killer (1989)

      The Killer, 1989.

      Directed by John Woo.

      Featuring Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Barry Wong, Kenneth Tsang, and Chu Kong.

      SYNOPSIS:

      An assassin takes on one final assignment to fund the restoration of the eyesight of a woman he accidentally blinded, while an insistent cop closes in on him. Continuing their series of releases of classic Hong Kong action films on 4K UHD, Arrow Video brings John Woo’s 1989 film The Killer to the format to accompany their recent outstanding edition of Hard Boiled. Though the latter is often regarded as the quintessential Hong Kong action film due to its relentless action, gunfire, and Chow Yun-Fat's remarkable on-screen presence, one could argue that The Killer is Woo's true masterpiece.

      In this film, Chow Yun-Fat portrays Ah Jong, a deadly assassin who accidentally blinds nightclub singer Jennie (Sally Yeh) when he fires his weapon too close to her head during a confrontation. Overcome with guilt, Ah Jong leaves his profession and soon saves Jennie from a mugging in the street. Unaware of his true identity, she invites him to her home, and a relationship begins. When his former friend and manager, Fung Sei (Chu Kong), offers him one last job, Ah Jong accepts it with the intention of using the earnings for Jennie’s treatment.

      Thus, Ah Jong is a killer with a conscience, and Chow Yun-Fat excels as the calm yet lethal assassin who adheres to his own code. However, The Killer transcends a mere action thriller driven by adrenaline and stunts. Inspector Li Ying (Danny Lee) is on Ah Jong's trail; he is a cop with personal issues and intrigued by this hired gun who appears to have ethical boundaries. The dynamic between them is central to The Killer, elevating it to a melodrama rather than a mere shoot-'em-up.

      While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a straightforward action film filled with violence, Hard Boiled serves as an exhilarating choice to watch late at night after a long outing, letting the plethora of thrilling scenes wash over you. In contrast, The Killer is best appreciated in a more reflective mood as it occasionally steps back from the gunfire, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with its characters. Alongside Chow Yun-Fat’s commanding presence, Danny Lee brings a likable quality, portraying a cop who seeks to comprehend his adversary while clashing with superiors who prioritize results over collateral damage.

      Similar to Michael Mann’s Heat, The Killer presents Ah Jong and Li Ying as two sides of the same coin, revealing that they aren't as dissimilar as they seem, but their choices have led them into opposing paths. In the midst of them is Jennie, a tragic figure whose circumstances are not her fault. This leads to a performance by Sally Yeh that is less nuanced compared to her male counterparts, and while the film slows to explore the dynamic between Ah Jong and Jennie, her exaggerated delivery doesn’t consistently evoke the empathy it aims for, making her dialogue-heavy scenes somewhat of a trial. Nonetheless, the moment when cop and assassin meet in her apartment, oblivious to the guns pointed at each other, is brilliantly acted and choreographed.

      If the notion of The Killer being overly sentimental worries you, rest assured, as the action sequences deliver an intense experience, with blood squibs bursting everywhere. Strangely, no character seems to fall after a single gunshot; instead, entire magazines are emptied into seemingly endless waves of henchmen, whose aim rivals that of Imperial Stormtroopers, raising questions about the capacity of a semi-automatic pistol. Regardless, this leads to some outrageously violent set pieces that, while less polished than the scenes in Hard Boiled made a few years later, capture a raw 1980s action film vibe that proves deeply satisfying.

      Presented in a three-disc set, The Killer arrives on 4K UHD with a sharp and natural-looking image, where the neon lights during night scenes are the primary spots for vibrant colors. The film showcases nice detail and a consistent grain that feels authentic rather than undergoing an HD treatment that detracts from its charm. The other two discs are standard Blu-rays featuring in-depth interviews with cast and crew, a comprehensive career retrospective on John Woo, and the 130-minute extended cut of The Killer in both restored and unrestored formats. While the theatrical version was cut down to a tighter 110 minutes for good reason, the longer version loses much of its pacing, but it’s still a valuable inclusion.

      In summary, The Killer solidified John Woo’s reputation, bringing together the stylistic elements he was known for at that time—birds, slow-motion, freeze frames, and Mexican standoffs—crafting a movie that delivers both emotional depth and adrenaline rush. Is it superior to Hard Boiled? In some aspects, yes, as it offers more investment and lingers in the mind