John Maguire: Hitman movie nails action, tension and humour in its crosshairs

David Fincher’s hitman thriller The Killer is as cold and slick as a knife. The director’s first film since he synthesised old Hollywood for Mank sees him reunite with his Seven screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker for an anxious, nihilistic procedural about a meticulous assassin, played by an impassive Michael Fassbender, who must go on the run after a job goes wrong.

Hiding his anonymity behind cover names lifted from actors in sitcoms and dressing “like ...