Filmmaker David Fincher says he wants his upcoming “The Killer” film to make you nervous – especially when you’re shopping for power tools and home improvement gear.
Appearing at the film’s press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, he spoke about developing the lead character played by Michael Fassbender.
He made it a point that the man be menacing but “didn’t need to be frightening. You know, the banality of evil” he tells France 24.
He added that: “My hope is that someone will see this film and get very nervous about the person behind them in line at Home Depot.”
As described in Variety, the character listens to English rockers The Smiths and eats McGriddles whilst prepping to take out his targets. Fincher says: “Sympathy was the last thing on my mind as it relates to this character”.
The choice of the Smiths was specific with their song “How Soon Is Now” used as an anxiety-coping tool by the killer, almost a “meditation tape”. In fact, he says said tape is something of our “window into him” during the film.
The film earned a five-minute standing ovation at its screening on the Lido on Sunday night though Fincher was reportedly confused and visibly uncomfortable with the long-lasting applause.