The Killer: John Woo's Seminal Action Classic Makes Its 4K Debut (Deluxe Limited Edition 4K)

The Film:

Hot on the heels of "Hard Boiled" and the "A Better Tomorrow" Trilogy, Shout! Studios is continuing their Hong Kong Cinema Classics series with what is very likely world-renowned action director John Woo's most popular & well-known work, 1989's "The Killer." The film is being given an incredible 4K upgrade for a new three-disc set, packed with over two and a half hours of commentaries, featurettes, and more, so now it's time once again to go back and revisit this action opus that stands as one of the most influential films of all time in the genre.

The film centers on Ah Jong (Chow Yun-fat), a hitman on the brink of retirement who accidentally blinds a nightclub singer named Jennie (Sally Yeh) while on a job. This causes him to watch over her for the next few months, until one night he saves her from a mugging, which eventually leads to them developing a close relationship. After learning that Jennie needs an expensive corneal transplant surgery, Ah Jong agrees to take on another hit to pay for it, during which he is betrayed by the man who hired him for exposing his identity. This hit is also where he first comes into contact with recently-demoted Detective Li Ying (Danny Lee), who soon becomes obsessed with catching Ah Jong and bringing him to justice, even going so far as to try using Jennie as bait. Will Ah Jong be able to evade everyone who's out to get him and achieve the happily ever after he longs to have with Jennie?

John Woo's "The Killer" is a rather riveting actioner, not just in terms of its impeccable action sequences, but also in terms of its well-developed character drama. Not only do we get a narrative regarding a hitman looking to get out of his line of work, a thread that most would probably find more than enough for a film on its own, but Woo additionally includes a touch of romance and the relentless pursuit of a justice-driven cop, who undergoes a fascinating character arc of his own.

This balance between the action & the story/character development are quite reminiscent of Woo's "A Better Tomorrow," where the elements were blended together with tremendous skill, with each complementing the other instead of overpowering them. "The Killer" achieves this deft mix as well, giving you captivating storylines to satisfy the viewer's need for substance, while also throwing in skillfully-constructed & thrilling scenes of violence to sate the need for some excitement to go along with it.

Put it all together, add in another cool performance from the legendary Chow Yun-fat, and it's not difficult to see why the film has been so incredibly popular ever since its release over 35 years ago, with many calling it one of the greatest & most influential action films of all time. With its new upgrade to 4K, now's the perfect time to revisit Woo's stunning actioner, or to experience it for the first time in its gorgeous new transfer. Either way, it's quite the easy recommendation to add this thrilling classic to your personal collection.

Video/Audio:

This edition of "The Killer" comes with the film on both 4K (2160p, UHD) and Blu-ray (1080p, HD) in 1.85:1 transfers of excellent quality. The new 4K scan from the original camera negative has cleaned up the film beautifully, presenting a sharp & clear image throughout its entire 111-minute duration. Likewise, the Mono DTS-HD Master Audio tracks are fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in outstanding quality. Overall, Shout! Studios has done a marvelous job in both areas for the film's 4K debut.

Special Features:

Commentary with Director John woo and Film Journalist Drew Taylor

Commentary with Critic and Author David West

Commentary with John Woo and Producer Terence Chang

The Hero of Heroic Bloodshed (74 Minutes): A feature-length documentary about John Woo.

A Bullet Ballet (45 Minutes): An interview with John Woo.

My Kind of Hero (6 Minutes): An interview with producer Terence Chang.

Editing The Killer (12 Minutes): An interview with editor David Wu.

Hong Kong Confidential (12 Minutes): An appreciation of the film with author Grady Hendrix.

Deleted and Extended Scenes (12 Minutes)

Conclusion:

John Woo's "The Killer" remains a seminal action classic that boasts a skillful balance of captivating character drama & thrilling action sequences, making it easy to see why many consider it to be one of the finest films ever made in its genre. Shout! Studios' new 4K upgrade presents the film in beautiful quality, with tons of great bonus material thrown it, earning it an easy recommendation to add to your collection.

Score: 4/5

Available on Deluxe Limited Edition 4K starting tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.