Summary

David Fincher surprises viewers by using popular, pre-existing music by The Smiths for the soundtrack of his film The Killer, breaking away from his usual approach of relying on original scores. The use of The Smiths’ melodramatic and pessimistic sound perfectly aligns with the themes and ideologies explored in The Killer, enhancing the film’s introspective nature. Despite controversies surrounding lead singer Morrissey, The Smiths’ inclusion in the film adds complexity to the protagonist’s character and provides a small glimpse into his mind and emotions.

Movie soundtracks are often one of the most overlooked aspects of the cinematic experience, yet they are often the most memorable. When David Fincher made his triumphant return to the director’s chair this year with Netflix’s The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender, fans and critics lapped up the iconic director’s slow-burning take on the psyche and morality of a contract killer. Fincher brought his signature style to the table, breaking down the mindset and, surprisingly, quiet life of a hitman for hire.

Fincher has never really been known for frequently incorporating diegetic soundtracks into his work, with the director often relying on original scores to accent the emotional impact of the on-screen tension. It’s even rarer for Fincher to use unoriginal music for his movies – of course, there was the iconic use of Pixies ‘Where Is My Mind?’ at the end of Fight Club, but that still stands out as a heavy exception. Therefore, many viewers were surprised when the soundtrack for The Killer consisted of popular, pre-existing music, and some were baffled when 99% of the songs were written and performed by the ’80s New-Wave band The Smiths.

Why Fincher Chose The Smiths
The Killer (2023) Release Date November 10, 2023 Director David Fincher Cast Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Kerry O’Malley, Charles Parnell, Lacey Dover Rating R Runtime 1hr 58min Main Genre Action
The Smiths are probably one of the last bands people would pick to soundtrack a film about a professional hitman. When the rock genre is combined with violent action, it is typically through the sounds of fast drums, heavy guitars, and aggressive vocals. However, David Fincher perfectly integrates The Smiths’s signature melodramatic lyrics and pessimistic sound into the themes and ideologies The Killer film spends most of its runtime dissecting.

Formed in 1982 in Manchester, The Smiths were one of the leading bands in the New Wave movement of the 1980s. This musical style incorporated sounds and elements from rock ‘n’ roll, pop, funk, reggae, and many other genres to create a juxtaposing catchy and agitated sound. Fincher’s The Killer is almost an unofficial greatest hits album for the band, including some of their most popular songs, like ‘How Soon Is Now?’ and ‘This Charming Man,’ with some under-appreciated gems like ‘The Queen Is Dead.’

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Speaking at the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Fincher commented on his extensive use of The Smiths in The Killer, initially stating that he had always wanted to use the band’s hit song “How Soon is Now?” in the film, and was fascinated and amused by the idea of the bittersweet track being used as a tool to assuage the character’s anxiety.

Using one song then slowly grew into Fincher utilizing many of the band’s greatest hits to form over 90% of the film’s soundtrack. Fincher explained the extensive use of The Smiths is thanks to the band’s mordant lyrics. The director explained, “I don’t think that there’s a library of music by recording artists that have as much sardonic nature and wit simultaneously [as The Smiths].”

Fincher’s use of The Smiths as his protagonist’s choice of meditative music also plays into the projected mundanity of the character. In the same interview, Fincher commented that Fassbender’s unnamed character didn’t need to be a terrifying, hulking figure. Instead, Fincher intended to convey the character as an everyman who wears muted gray clothes, drives unremarkable cars, and listens to popular bands like The Smiths. Fincher said, “My hope is that someone will see this film and get very nervous about the person behind them in line at Home Depot.”

The Smiths’ Controversy Heightens Their Effect in The Killer

As any long-time fan will tell you, no one hates The Smiths more than The Smiths fans – or, more specifically, no one hates Morrissey more than The Smiths fans. While the band has a relatively clean track record, the mononymous lead singer, Morrissey, became the frequent cause of controversy in the years following the band’s break-up.

Once a hero to self-described outsiders and the LGBTQ+ community during the band’s time together, The Smiths fans felt heavily betrayed after Morrissey revealed his hard-leaning right-wing political views, with the singer being accused of racism on multiple occasions, and openly supporting the far-right UK political party For Britain.

As a result, The Smiths fans often feel a sense of second-hand guilt when listening to and enjoying the band post-Morrissey. For those who know the background of The Smiths and Morrissey, their use in The Killer adds another unhinged layer to the protagonist’s already irredeemable choices. Of course, there is always the idea of separating the art from the artist, but the character’s use of The Smiths as a form of meditation while working on contracts only complicates the character’s psyche further.

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The Killer provides audiences with few clues about its protagonist outside his current revenge mission. While this adds to the intended generalizability of the character, Fincher also wanted The Smiths to be the audience’s small gateway into the character’s mind. We learn nothing about who this man actually is, what his childhood was like, or how he became the hitman presented on-screen, but we can relate to him and understand fragments about him through his choice of music. The Killer is now available to stream on Netflix.

Stream The Killer on Netflix