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If you’re a fan of Westerns, listen up. Today, Netflix released The Killer, a Brazilian cowboy flick that’s sure to be a great weekend watch. The Killer is the streaming platform’s first foray into Brazilian content, and its release comes at a time when the company is starting to invest in a far greater number of international projects. In the last month alone, Netflix has released four international titles, including Suburra (Italy) and Fe de etarras (Spain), both of which received positive reviews from critics.
The Killer was produced and marketed heavily in Brazil—its original name is O Matador—so it’s likely that you don’t know a ton about the film. That’s where we come in. We’ve got the answers to all your burning questions about the action-packed Netflix Original that will make Westworld look like child’s play.
What Is The Killer About?
The Killer tells the story of Cabeleira, a feared mercenary living in the lawless desert of Pernambuco, Brazil. Cabeleira was raised by a gunman named Seven Ears and grew up happy but isolated in the wilderness. Years ago, his father disappeared without warning, and now, as an adult, Cabeleira sets out to find him. While exploring the small towns of the Pernambuco, the killer gets involved in the precious stones trade and learns that he himself has a son, both of which complicate his mission. As the film progresses and Cabeleira’s responsibilities increase, he comes to question whether having nothing to lose is a lifestyle worth continuing.
What Language Is The Film In?
The Killer is Brazilian, so all the dialogue is in Portuguese. Rather than awkwardly dub the film with English voice overs, Netflix provides subtitles (or if you speak Portuguese, good for you!) in a variety of languages so that viewers in each of the 190 countries where the streamer operates can enjoy the film.
If you’re interested in a mini Portuguese lesson, we’ve got you covered. The film’s original title, O Matador, translates exactly to “The Killer” in English. Netflix is marketing The Killer by its English name, but if you want to find out any more info on the Western, you’ll need its Portuguese title: the film’s IMDb and Wikipedia pages are filed under O Matador, not The Killer.
One more Portuguese lesson before you go. Cabeleira, the title character’s name, translates as “hair” in English. And boy, is that an apt name.
Are There Any Big Stars In The Film?
Cabeleira himself is played by Diogo Morgado, a Portuguese actor best known for playing Jesus in the big-budget picture Son of God and History Channel’s The Bible. Apart from his Jesus filmography, Morgado has also starred in the CW’s The Messengers and in the indie film Red Butterfly.
Joining Morgado are Maria de Medeiros, known for her role as Fabienne in Quentin Tarantino‘s Pulp Fiction, and Etienne Chicot (The Da Vinci Code). Other members of The Killer‘s cast are well known in Europe and South America, but haven’t broken out yet in the United States.
What Are People Saying About The Killer?
Even though The Killer was released this past April in Brazil, there aren’t a ton of critical reviews on the film. However, Brazilian fans who saw the film seemed to have loved it, as it currently has an 8.6/10 rating on IMDb. On top of that, the Western was nominated for 9 awards at this year’s Gramado Film Festival, a festival that honors top-tier Brazilian projects, including Best Director and Screenplay honors for Marcelo Galvão and a Best Actor nom for Morgado. Clearly, this is a highly-acclaimed international release that Netflix subscribers won’t want to miss.
