Hong Kong-based film directorJohn Woodisplays a masterclass in both action and emotional storytelling through his 1989 thrillerThe Killer. Due to its overwhelming success, an American remake was slowly coming to fruition in 1992. However, due to thematic misconceptions, script rewrites, and scheduling conflicts, audiences had to sit tight and wait another 32 years. Can you believe it?
With the film orchestrated by Woo once more, the modern-day retelling ofThe Killerwas finally released on Peacock on July 05, 2025. Even though the action genre pioneer has his filmmaking style on full display once more in this streaming exclusive, assassins and well-choreographed gunplay just don’t make a film by themselves these days.
The Killer
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The Killer Can’t Evolve From Classic Action
American audiences have been fed variations of the heroic bloodshed genre for years now. PuttingWoo’s international film creditsaside (primarily for the sake of this argument), let’s look at just some of the theatrical trends that swept the nation between 1989 and 2024.We don’t have to dive far into that timeline to find something akin to Woo’s work. TheJohn Wickfranchise, which started in 2014, had its most recent installment just last year.
In the fourth Chad Stahelski-directed movie in the franchise, slicing, dicing, and shooting were accompanied by themes of will and morality (Wick’s dedication to his deceased wife). What about Denzel Washington’sThe Equalizersaga? Just in the first entry alone, the variety of kills was astounding, and it was all about defending an innocent girl trying to get out of a bad life. The list can grow much longer when it comes to gruesome action flicks that balance a valorous backstory for the protagonist(s) — TheBournefranchise,Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2,The Boondock Saints, etc. Whether they are streamed from home or were originally seen in theaters, the impact of these types of movies depends on what’s doneto set them apart from the rest.
The Killer Stars Omar Sy & Nathalie Emmanuel Reveal the Zen Action of John Woo
The sexy stars break down Peacock’s remake of perhaps the greatest action movie of all time, John Woo’s The Killer.
The bar continuously has to be raised, and withThe Killer, it just wasn’t. The chemistry between Zee and Sey (played by Nathalie Emmanuel and Omar Sy) was commendable. Actually, the entire cast did their best to bring the story alive in this Peacock adaptation. However, the original movie’s dedication to making the action feel palpable and showing personal connections between characters was sorely lost in translation.
The Killer Remke Was a Mistake
It will forever be an unanswered question about how Woo thought he could replicate what he found with 1989’sThe Killer. Chow Yun-fat was (and still is) a powerhouse on the screen. His character was a hitman sought out for his weakness — visibly shaking and crying when he found he could afford a moment. He conveyed that inner conflict to audiences without a problem. Danny Lee, his detective opposite, knew how to slowly go from the hitman’s rival to best friend without ever seeming forced or awkward.
Whether Emmanuel and Sy didn’t have enough time to get in that zone yet or the final script needed readjusting, that same level of camaraderie did not shine through. Also, the action sequences had too many jump cuts —the Woo cinematic stylewas obviously blown out of proportion, probably by studio executives who proclaimed that they had a pulse on modern audiences. No matter the quality of the film, John Woo is a name that will always have a dedicated fanbase. However,his refreshed take onThe Killershows that his films are cinematic hallmarks of the past and the past alone— action movies that stand well to help inspire the genre for all filmmakers in the future.The Killer(2024) is streaming onPeacock.
