The Ballet of Bullets
Spine #8 is a rare treat—a film currently out of print in the Collection (but streaming through various services), but essential to understanding modern cinema. John Woo’s The Killer (1989) is the definition of “overboard” action, but it is excess by design. It introduces the West to the concept of “Heroic Bloodshed,” where gunfights are choreographed like dances and reality takes a backseat to style.
The violence is relentless. There surely wasn’t a squib left in Hong Kong after production wrapped. We see dozens of henchmen mowed down in telegraphed waves, infinite bullets flying without reloading (unless a conversation or flashback is needed), and white suits worn specifically to showcase the blooming red of the blood. It is hyper-stylized entertainment, filled with slow-motion doves and dual-wielded pistols, yet it feels strangely familiar—because this movie is the blueprint for everything from The Matrix to John Wick.
However, beneath the gunfire lies a relationship dynamic that fits surprisingly well with earlier entries in the Collection like Grand Illusion. Just as Renoir explored unlikely bonds across class lines, Woo explores the bond across the law. The relationship between the assassin Ah Jong (“Shrimp Head”) and the cop Inspector Li (“Little B”) is built on a shared code of honor. They are enemies who realize they are actually mirrors of one another—both rebellious, both operating by a moral compass that society has forgotten.
The character of Jennie, the blinded singer, serves as the necessary thread to hold this chaos together. Her tragedy reveals Ah Jong’s true nature (a killer with a conscience) and grounds the movie. Without her, the film would just be noise; with her, the endless violence has a purpose.
The Verdict: The Killer is a masterclass in action filmmaking. It was included in the Criterion Collection to showcase the massive impact of Hong Kong cinema on Hollywood. It proves that an action movie can be loud, bloody, and incredibly cheesy, while still possessing a genuine heart.
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