The Killer (2024)

Woo's remake of his own now classic 1989 action film delivers with a sexy and stylish thriller, if you can withstand the blood and violence. Sy (Lupin) and Emmanuel (Game of Thrones) make a captivating pair in The Killer. You somehow want them both to triumph, even as they're working for much of the film on opposite sides, and even as Emmanuel's Zee commits atrocious acts. The two gorgeous and charismatic experts also have a chemistry and eroticism that goes underexploited. That's not the main focus here—the action is, and Woo is a master. Fans are likely to compare the remake unkindly to its predecessor, precisely because he, and the original, are so revered.

But taken on its own, this is a great watch. Many of the techniques Woo is known for are on display in minutely choreographed fight scenes made to feel like a dance, set to operatic or jazzy musical themes crescendoing with the action. A final battle scene in and around a church purposefully goes on longer than necessary, at the service of intended suspense and symbolism. Other interesting uses of camera angles, lighting, split screens, and original music keep the entire viewing experience exciting despite relatively predictable plot turns and unnecessary flashbacks. Language switching doesn't always make sense in the film's Parisian setting, but it still made a great location choice.