The Killer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2024 film The Killer directed by John Woo, a remake of his own 1989 Hong Kong film with Nathalie Emmanuel and Omar Sy in the lead roles. The film score is composed by Marco Beltrami and released through Lakeshore Records on August 23, 2024.
Development Marco Beltrami renewed his collaboration with John Woo after scoring the director's previous Silent Night (2023). Describing it an "inspired" collaboration, he considered the film as "an unusually romantic and fun way" to score action sequences similar to a ballet. The hospital shootout scene was the first to be scored that demanded an extensive collaboration between Beltrami and editor Zach Staenberg. The sequence utilizes jazz elements. Beltrami composed a whistling theme for the protagonist and instead of working on a huge orchestra, Beltrami went ahead with a smaller orchestra, representing strings and drum kits, for a raw and energetic feel. The score often emphasizes Spaghetti Western influences. It was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in May 2024.
Release The score was released through Back Lot Music on August 23, 2024.
Reception David Ehrlich of IndieWire wrote "the horny saxophone that Marco Beltrami's score uses to inject actual jazz into the middle of an exuberantly staged hospital shootout [...] celebrate the fun of playing". Matthew Donato of Collider wrote "Marco Beltrami's highpoint score tries to add some zip with jazzy woodwind rhythms, but visuals lag behind musical peppiness". Nick Rogers of Midwest Film Journal called it a "shrewdly peppy score". Maxance Vincent of FilmSpeak wrote "Marco Beltrami's Ennio Morricone-inspired score, [gives] the remake the Western quality Woo always enjoys tipping the hat to." However, Alex Maidy of JoBlo.com called it a "generic score".
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from Beltrami's official website and liner notes:
Music composer: Marco Beltrami Music producer: Buck Sanders Music editor: Joe E. Rand Orchestrator: Mark Graham, Pete Anthony, Jon Kull Conductor: Marco Beltrami Music preparation: JoAnn Kane Music Service Librarian: Dakota Music Service Recording engineer: John Barrett Recording studio: Abbey Road Studios Mixing engineer: Tyson Lozensky Mixing studio: Pianella Studios Additional engineer: Lewis Jones Score recordist: Chris Parker Assistant engineers: Neil Dawes, Martin Riley Orchestra and vocal contractor: Isobel Griffiths Ltd. Orchestra leader: Thomas Bowes Vocal contractor: Ben Parry Piano: Andy Massey Solo saxophone: Martin Williams Solo trumpet: Tom Rees-Roberts Solo jazz bass: Rory Dempsey Solo cello: Tim Gill Solo soprano: Grace Davidson Drums: Hayden Beltrami Whistler: Matthew Paris
Accolades Awards Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Hollywood Music in Media AwardsNovember 20, 2024Original Score – TV/Streamed MovieMarco Beltrami International Film Music Critics AssociationFebruary 27, 2025Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure Film
References