History Trivia / TheKiller

* NamesTheSame: There is actually a 1972 Creator/ShawBrothers movie, also titled ''The Killer''. Both movies had plenty of gunplay and shootouts, but the similarities ends here.

** During the assassination at the boat race, Ah Jong wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Creator/ChowYunFat was simultaneously working on ''Film/TigerOnBeat''. On the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of an MP5 during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of this film to shoot the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.
** The bloody injury below Chow Yun-Fat's left eye is real and was caused by a squib during the climactic shootout. Rather than go to the hospital, he suggested they keep filming and use it as part of the illusion.

* ThrowItIn: The film's subversion of DiedInYourArmsTonight during the ending was originally meant to be played straight, but Creator/JohnWoo was forced to improvise due to scheduling conflicts.

* WrittenInInfirmity:
** During the assassination at the boat race, Ah Jong wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Creator/ChowYunFat was simultaneously working on ''Film/TigerOnBeat''. On the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of an Uzi submachine gun during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of this film to shoot the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.
** The bloody injury below Fat's left eye is real and was caused by a squib during the climactic shootout. Rather than go to the hospital, he suggested they keep filming and use it as part of the illusion.

** During the assassination at the boat race, Ah Jong wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Creator/ChowYunFat was simultaneously working on ''Film/TigerOnTheBeat''. On the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of an Uzi submachine gun during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of this film to shoot the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.

** During the assassination at the boat race, Ah Jong wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Creator/ChowYunFat was simultaneously working on ''A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon''. On the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of an Uzi submachine gun during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of this film to shoot the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.

** In October 2007, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' announced that the remake was announced with Korean-American director John H. Lee directing that would take place in Los Angeles's Koreatown, Chinatown, and South Central. Lee named The Killer as one of his favorite films and that he was excited to make his own version of the film that was set to be produced by Woo, star Jung Woo-sung and shot in 3D. Seven Stars Film Studios was slated to finance the production with a screenplay by Josh Campbell. Sarah Li was initially cast to play the role of the blind singer. Woo spoke about the remake in October 2015, stating that it was in development for some time and Lee eventually took on other projects.
** Woo said that he planned to make the American version after his film ''Manhunt''. Creator/UniversalStudios is set to develop a script written by Eran Creevy based on drafts by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken. Brian Helgeland has been hired for additional writing and Creator/LupitaNyongo has been cast in the lead role. Woo said that filming would begin in January 2019. In November of that year, Woo told ''Deadline'' that Nyong'o had left the film due to another project and they have have re-written the script and it took so much time.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Tsui Hark, the film's producer, attempted this multiple times on Creator/JohnWoo as an extension of their disagreements over ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II''. Tsui Hark originally wanted nothing to do with the film, saying "[[ItWillNeverCatchOn nobody wants to see a film about a killer]]", and forced Woo to change his intended jazz song opening to a pop song, claiming that Hong Kong people didn't understand jazz. He also attempted to have the film recut to focus on Danny Lee's character, but John Woo refused. Since he demanded this so late into post-production, Tsui Hark was not able to recut the film himself. When the film was greeted with high praise in its Taiwan premier, Tsui Hark was supposedly so livid that he trashed his own office.

* DeletedScene: Scenes cut from the film:

* InspirationForTheWork: Creator/JohnWoo cited ''Film/LeSamourai'' as an influence on the story. Woo borrows plot elements for the film, including the set-up where Jef enters a nightclub and looks at the female singer. Woo also described the influence of a Japanese film, ''Narazumono'', about a killer (Ken Takakura) who only kills delinquents. When a mob tricks him into killing an innocent person, he swears revenge but then meets a woman who has tuberculosis and wants to go home. The killer promises the woman that he will take her home after getting his revenge.

* WrittenInInfirmity: During the assassination at the boat race, Ah Jong wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Creator/ChowYunFat was simultaneously working on ''A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon''. On the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of an Uzi submachine gun during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of this film to shoot the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.

* TooSoon: The film did not do well in Hong Kong because audiences didn't like the allusions to the Tienanmen Square massacre.

** Li rescuing Jennie from some muggers in the same manner that Ah Jong does. It also includes a nice little reveal where we see that Jeff has seen the whole thing. The scene continues with Li taking Jennie back to her apartment, and Li seeing Jeff watching from outside.

** Ah Jong and Jennie driving from the airport and arriving at Sidney's safe house.
** Ah Jong and Jennie having breakfast at the house. Then Sidney arrives.
** The Hitman With No Eyes arrives by the creek and finds Ah Jong's bandages.

* InspirationForTheWork: Creator/JohnWoo cited ''Film/LeSamorai'' as an influence on the story. Woo borrows plot elements for the film, including the set-up where Jef enters a nightclub and looks at the female singer. Woo also described the influence of a Japanese film, ''Narazumono'', about a killer (Ken Takakura) who only kills delinquents. When a mob tricks him into killing an innocent person, he swears revenge but then meets a woman who has tuberculosis and wants to go home. The killer promises the woman that he will take her home after getting his revenge.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The film's subversion of DiedInYourArmsTonight during the ending was originally meant to be played straight, but Creator/JohnWoo was forced to improvise due to scheduling conflicts.
** The original ending of the film involved Jennie waiting at an airport for Li to give her the money and for them to travel to the United States. Due to Sally Yeh's tight filming schedule, the scene was not filmed and replaced with Ah Jong playing the harmonica.

** The film's subversion of DiedInYourArmsTonight during the ending was originally meant to be played straight, but Creator/JohnWoo was forced to improvise due to scheduling conflicts. Its possible this benefited the film, as the ending was made that much more tragic as a result.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Tsui Hark, the film's producer, attempted this multiple times on John Woo as an extension of their disagreements over ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II''. Tsui Hark originally wanted nothing to do with the film, saying "[[ItWillNeverCatchOn nobody wants to see a film about a killer]]", and forced Woo to change his intended jazz song opening to a pop song, claiming that Hong Kong people didn't understand jazz. He also attempted to have the film recut to focus on Danny Lee's character, but John Woo refused. Since he demanded this so late into post-production, Tsui Hark was not able to recut the film himself. When the film was greeted with high praise in its Taiwan premier, Tsui Hark was supposedly so livid that he trashed his own office.

** Li rescuing Jenny from some muggers in the same manner that Ah Jong does. It also includes a nice little reveal where we see that Jeff has seen the whole thing. The scene continues with Li taking Jenny back to her apartment, and Li seeing Jeff watching from outside.

** Ah Jong and Jenny driving from the airport and arriving at Sidney's safe house.
** Ah Jong and Jenny having breakfast at the house. Then Sidney arrives.

* ReCut: Details here http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1037.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The film's subversion of DiedInYourArmsTonight during the ending was originally meant to be played straight, but Woo was forced to improvise due to scheduling conflicts. Its possible this benefited the film, as the ending was made that much more tragic as a result.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Tsui Hark, the film's producer, attempted this multiple times on John Woo as an extension of their disagreements over ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II''. Tsui Hark originally wanted nothing to do with the film, saying "[[ItWillNeverCatchOn nobody wants to see a film about a killer]]", and forced Woo to change his intended jazz song opening to a pop song, claiming that Hong Kong people didn't understand jazz. He also attempted to have the film recut to focus on Danny Lee's character, but John Woo refused, and since he demanded this so late into post-production, Tsui Hark was not able to recut the film himself. When the film was greeted with high praise in its Taiwan premier, Tsui Hark was supposedly so livid that he trashed his own office.

* ExecutiveMeddling: Tsui Hark, the film's producer, attempted this multiple times on John Woo as an extension of their disagreements over ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II''. Tsui Hark originally wanted nothing to do with the film, saying "[[ItWillNeverCatchOn nobody wants to see a film about a killer]]", and forced Woo to change his intended jazz song opening to a pop song as he told Woo that Hong Kong people don't get jazz. He also attempted to have the film recut to focus on Danny Lee's character, but John Woo refused, and since he demanded this so late into post-production, Tsui Hark was not able to recut the film himself. When the film was greeted with high praise in its Taiwan premier, Tsui Hark was supposedly so livid that he trashed his own office.