The Killer (2017) User Reviews

Badly written movie. Good actors. Mediocre story.

[obie_triceportugues · 5/10 · 17 November 2017]

The only reason to watch this movie until the end is Diogo Morgado, who's the anti-hero cave-man look alike. The western style is nice, and the amount of violence looks good for the kind of mood it's supposed to be. But the scenes are totally off, with no connection between them. The viewer can't bond with any character, and doesn't feel bad about the death of anyone. There's no suspense. The scenes happen quickly and are not smooth at all. It's a bad storytelling, told in the form of a narrator who starts to tell a story to two blokes out of nowhere, who are supposedly outlaws who threaten him if he doesn't tell some story.

Conclusion: You won't exactly feel like you've lost an hour and a half watching this, but it's no good experience either. You may like it if you really love old westerns.

American, European and Australian westerns all have their distinct flavors.

[steveo122 · 7/10 · 12 January 2018]

While it could be called predominantly 'Leone-like', this brutal western has influences from all regions but still firmly sets a Brazilian tone for a new sub-genre. I say 'new' based on my not seeing an S.A. example before this. There are a few editing/story problems that may indicate a director's cut in the future, but they don't take away from the flow of the story. If you like exploring modern westerns, it's worth a look.

Slow burn well worth watching

[eventlaunch · 6/10 · 24 June 2019]

I found this movie very slow however quite intriguing I guess I'm a sucker for westerns not quite your all time greats but interesting none the less

Last 10 minutes saved the film

[alahmed-55673 · 7/10 · 12 April 2020]

• Simple story but yet confusing at times
• some plot holes
• a lot of Unnecessary killing
• disliked how it took him a while till he accepted his son
• i was thinking of giving the film 5/10 but the last 10 minutes boosted the film

Western with ... no consent

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 7 June 2021]

There is a lot of violence in this and not just the one dished out with revolvers/guns, but also with ones body ... to someone elses body. I have to admit, to a point I personally wasn't sure if it wasn't a bit too much. Actually I know it goes too far in more than one occasion.

So in case you are not sure if you can stomache this ... maybe this isn't for you. Everyone else will see an interesting (brazilian) take on the Western genre. One that has more bad guys than you can count - which I reckon makes sense. Still you might have issues to root for many people here, if any. The movie is well done though, looks good and is interesting to say the least.

FU - but FU consistently

[mikehammondzm · 7/10 · 24 March 2021]

Pathology. Cinematography. Psychology. And chronology. FU. Yet consistently so. Thumbs up. Gonna want to watch several times.

OK for a NetFlix film?

[bsx-05384 · 4/10 · 14 November 2017]

It is nice that they spend so much on original content but they really need to up the budget for the people that greenlight these things. This movie is borderline Conan the Gunslinger, and has annoying narration throughout. The plot is OK, the production quality is fairly decent, even though the CGI gunshots are obvious. The dialogue, however, is very weak, and the acting not much better. I am have no idea why some other reviewers are saying what a cruel, violent, yet excellent and amazing movie it is. It is not like that - think of it and above average SyFy movie with a better than average budget.

A very nice Brazilian western

[rodrigokazuma · 8/10 · 12 November 2017]

If you like western movies, you gonna like this movie. You gonna see a little bit of our northeast, with a lot of violence. The Fx is not so good, but I think it is not a problem. Just relax and understand this is a very low production. For me, the best is the story line and the (unknown) actor with excellent role play. Just watch.

Bad acting, weak story. Don't waste your time.

[viviannepontes · 3/10 · 12 November 2017]

When I saw the title felt really excited, because I am a fan of the Sertão (translated as badlands) narrative. Well... This movie has a good technical quality, but wasted on bad acting. Also a very weak story, full of poor stereotypes. Very disappointing. I wish I could Un-watch.

Excellent Acting, amazing story! Worth Watching!

[leticia-58509 · 10/10 · 13 November 2017]

Intense, deep, brutal, yet sensitive, this amazing Western tells the story of "Cabeleira" a killer, born and raised in in a lawless countryside in the northeast of Brazil. Besides Cabeleira's fight for survival, we also get to know the story of other interesting characters, like Seven Ears, Sobral and the Frenchman. The impressive cinematography, intriguing storytelling, and a great performance from Diogo Morgado, as Cabeleira, as well as the performances from Brazilians and European actors, make this Western definitely worth watching! Highly Recommend!

Bad. Just Bad.

[marcoacosorio · 1/10 · 21 April 2020]

I saw a review here in IMDb claiming this film was at a old's Clint Eastwood western level. And so I decided to give a shot. Also, I'm Portuguese and the main actor too. After 25 min of watching, boring as hell, the film is slow, no talking almost, everything superficial. My dad quit watching it lasting 20 min to end, and says this was the worst western film he ever watched, and he is a western lover. Not much to say, bad.

Savage Western

[Pairic · 8/10 · 15 November 2019]

The Killer: A Savage Brazilian Western which qualifies as great or rather epic because of the way it spans generations in the Brazil of the 1910s to the 1940s. An assassin finds a baby abandoned in the desert and raises him as his son. When this killer disappears his "son" takes his place as the chief assassin for a rich landowner who kills everyone who gets in his way. A story of revenge and betrayal which unfolds across the decades. There are killers to deal with the killers and bandidos to carry out the more unsavory massacres. Even poets are shot! In some ways reminiscent of Leon, showing how simple people can be turned into savage killers. Writer/Director Marcelo Galvão delivers a thrilling tale about the 20th Century Wild West of Brazil. 8/10 On Netflix.

Ruined By Lack of Budget

[jethrojohn · 4/10 · 11 May 2021]

I can see what they're trying to do here.

The filmmakers are attempting a spaghetti western homage, with all the violence and off-kilter weirdness that the best of those had.

Unfortunately, although the direction, cinematography, and plot aren't too bad, the film is let down by what should be its most impactful part - its violence.

For a film like this to work, the violence needs to be impactful. It needs to feel weighty and real.

When someone is shot, it needs to make the viewer wince. We need to recoil at the impact of the bullet.

And gunshots need to boom out, loud and proud and fierce.

Remember how a gunshots sounded in A Fistful of Dollars? Or how men reacted when shot?

You cannot do this without squibs and real blanks on set. Unfortunately, nowadays these are expensive. So a lot of low budget films do what this one did.

They put the gunshots in in post. The blood is CG.

This has the effect of making everything seem so pitiful. The weapons sound pathetic. Someone farting in the bath would have sounded better.

And the CG blood is the same fake-looking nonsense we've seen a million times.

This ruins the tone the film is going for. Everything just feels too fake to be believed.

Not worth watching.

Don't waste your time

[rui-pintoferreira · 2/10 · 23 January 2021]

A Brazilian film that tell us a story from the early decade of the twenty century from a little village in the interior of brazil about a sold killer that is hired to kill ranchers for is boss. Really bad movie, the story is poor the action is even worse. I'm portuguese and I couldn't understand most of the dialogues. Doesn't worth the effort to see it until the end. I've given up watching it until the end.

Painfully annoying

[ramtighidam · 4/10 · 7 July 2023]

The Killer attempts to capture the essence of cool scenes from real Western movies but falls short with its pretentious and pointless execution. Instead of paying homage to the genre, it comes across as childish, undermining the impact it intends to make. The portrayal of these supposedly cool scenes lacks depth and substance, leaving the audience yearning for the genuine essence that made the originals so captivating. Ultimately, The Killer fails to live up to its potential and leaves viewers disappointed and unimpressed.

Additionally, the film's attempt at creating an authentic Western atmosphere feels contrived and forced, further detracting from its overall appeal. The lack of character development and weak storytelling only exacerbate the disappointment, leaving audiences questioning the purpose and value of The Killer as a contribution to the genre.

Despite the film's overall shortcomings, the main actors deliver commendable performances with their portrayal of their respective characters. Their talent shines through, showcasing their dedication and skill in bringing the roles to life. However, their impressive acting abilities are ultimately undermined by the film's lack of purpose and direction, leaving their efforts feeling somewhat pointless in the grand scheme of the narrative.

Incredible movie. Violent, wild, fun and cruel. Amazing end

[jeffersonadiniz · 10/10 · 12 November 2017]

I'm a big fan of western movies, if you like Clint Eastwood movies, like High Plains Drifter or Pale Rider, you'll definitely enjoy "The Killer" (O Matador). The plot and the ending are amazing, it shows a little of the region Northeast, the poorest and most violent in Brazil at the time of the "cangaceiros", where justice was done in violence. The protagonist Cabeleira is literally a "cabra macho" wilder and man than any John Wayne movie. If you like western you will surely enjoy this movie.

Universal Western

[norse-650-884511 · 9/10 · 1 December 2017]

Although occurring in northeast Brazil during the late 19th century/early 20th century, the story line could just as well occurred in the American West during the same time period. The look and feel of The Killer displayed an ethnic diversity that was surely present in the American West but never on display in any of our most noteworthy westerns nor spaghetti westerns. As usual and customary, the wealth is in the hands of the 1% Western Europeans and descendants who are driven by greed and status. They no more appreciate and accept their abundant cultural surroundings than native peoples could accept intrusion and control. A must see.

Mediocre

[Movie_Rating_n_Ranking · 5/10 · 15 January 2023]

I'll start by saying that it's quite difficult for me to think of a Brazilian western film. They are concepts that contradict each other in my head. Under this precept I began to see the film and although I tried to avoid it, it was somewhat uncomfortable to process. Not because of the movie itself, but because of the aforementioned.

What stands out the most is the character who serves as the narrator. The movie is simple, light, basic, and a bit cartoony. Although it has the courage to laugh at itself, after a couple of sequences the film runs out of ideas, and becomes empty and purposeless. At this point it's pretty boring and slow.

Great ending to a story that melted several moments ago.

It's clearly not suitable for children. Recommended for adults, only if there is nothing else to see.

Nonsensical story, lacking any cohesion

[johntk1566 · 2/10 · 27 June 2021]

There is not enough of a story, nor action, to make enduring the endless, disconnected scenes of human anguish worth watching. It also lacks sufficient historicity to hold it together.

Amazing

[mwang121 · 10/10 · 25 November 2017]

I watched this with 2 other friends who didn't think much of the movie.

But for me, everything was amazing.

The setting in the Mexican badlands, the time they took to put the grit into the costumes and backdrop, the acting, the dramatic story line.

It portrayed that place in a way I could believe even though it was an insane place.

I would agree that at times it did go too fast and new characters were introduced without warning.

What a must see

[searchanddestroy-1 · 10/10 · 14 June 2018]

I was just amazed by this offbeat western from Brazil. I have subscribed to Netflix since one week now, and there is a batch of nteresting movies and series from all over the world, not available in DVD and on large screen as well. Hollywood and even America film industry would never give us such masterpieces, not this kind of unusual schèmes. of course it is not for all audiences, silly audiences I mean, those herds of sheep in search of ALWAYS the same schemes, where there is bad and good guys. Here, it is like TOM HORN topic, a sort of hired killer for a landlord - played here by a French actor - who suddenly decides to change his "behaviour". You deal with some supporting characters, and the story may not be always easy to follow, I admit. But I craved for this story. I am sure that on Netflix, I will find more of this kind.

Great Movie!! Great cinematography. Great Plot Twist!!

[mouaadhnet · 9/10 · 2 July 2021]

I am no professional movie reviewer, but I really enjoyed the film and still want to know what happens next? The movie had me on the edge of my seat.

Well Made

[freelanceiqbal · 9/10 · 1 July 2021]

We were bored and decided to watch it.

Good acting, it was intriguing for the most part and had just enough turns to keep us watching till the end.

However, it was a good film, and we enjoyed it.

Wonderful acting, Deserve watching

[sundaylookman · 10/10 · 12 January 2020]

This is movies is very interesting to watch. Have watched it several times and gain more experiences in it. It worth watching..

I love Western movies

[sundaylookman · 10/10 · 12 January 2020]

Actions movies, this movies is a good story, fun, pleasure interest and have an amazing end I love to watch it everytime, everydays