The Killer (2023): More Like 'The Chill-er'?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching 'The Killer' on Netflix, and honestly... I'm a little mixed. Fincher is back in his element, clearly, the whole aesthetic is top-notch. The opening with the Smiths needle drops? "How Soon Is Now?" He's setting the mood right, I'll give him that. Fassbender does a great job of being...well, a total blank slate. You know, the 'I am Jack's cold detachment' kind of thing. The methodical-ness is definitely there. Reminded me a bit of 'The American' with George Clooney, just, you know, more...precise. But here's the thing, and I think a lot of people are echoing this, the pacing is slooooooow. Like, deliberately slow. I get it, it's a character study, or at least it's trying to be. But the repetition of his routines, while initially intriguing, started feeling a bit tedious after a while. "Relax. Don't improvise." I kept waiting for some BIG reveal, some emotional gut-punch, and it just...never really came. Felt like I was waiting for Godot, except Godot was a compelling storyline. I did appreciate the dry dark humor peppered throughout. The fight scene in the Florida house? That was brutal and kinda funny at the same time. And the 'expert' he hires? LOL. Solid black comedy there. But overall, I left the movie feeling...empty. Like, I appreciate the craft, but did I connect with anything? Not really. "Expect nothing. Accept everything." Maybe that's the point, but I'm not sure I'm fully buying what he's selling. Worth watching? Yeah, probably if you're a Fincher completist or just like slow burn thrillers. But go in expecting something cerebral and stylish, not necessarily something that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Also, if you like movies with a lot of dialogue, you might want to skip this one.