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The Killer (1989)
- For the 2023 David Fincher action film of the same name, see The Killer (2023).
The Killer (喋血雙雄) is a 1989 Hong Kong action thriller film from director John Woo that stars Chow Yun-Fat as an expert assassin who finds himself conflicted with his work after accidentally blinding a female singer during one of his jobs. Danny Lee co-stars as the Hong Kong Police Force inspector determined to catch the assassin and take down the organization that employs him. The Killer gained numerous international accolades for Woo and its influence can be seen in countless action films in the following decades including in the films directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.
The following weapons were used in the film The Killer (1989):
Pistols
Beretta 92F
The Beretta 92F is frequently seen in the hands of Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) as in many John Woo films. However, according to the film's lead armorer/gun coach, they only had access to one Beretta during the shoot, so the Brazilian Taurus PT92 was used in many scenes as a substitute.
Taurus PT92
A number of Taurus PT92 pistols are used by Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) and Fung Sei (Chu Kong). They are also used by many Triads, and a stainless model is used by the syndicate killer Frank Chen (Ricky Yi Fan-Wai). This weapon are frequently used as substitutes for the Beretta 92F, since the film's armorers only had access to one Beretta for most of filming. Whenever Ah Jong is seen firing two pistols, he typically uses the blued Taurus PT92 with black grips in combination with his Beretta 92F. The rubber grips on the blued Taurus were emblazoned with a fake Beretta logo in order to make it look like the 92F, though this modification is usually not visible in the finished film.
Also note that there are a number of continuity errors in which the Taurus replaces the Beretta (or vice-versa).
Walther PPK
The Walther PPK is used by Ah Jong in his apartment as a backup weapon alongside his Beretta, previously held in his left sleeve. The Walther PPK used in this scene was actually an 8mm German-made blank-firing replica, because the armorers were unable to acquire a real PPK when the scene was filmed. Aside from the Umarex GPDAs used by the Triads and a Desert Eagle replica seen in the gun case, this is the only gun in the film that is fake. Note concealing a pocket pistol in the jacket sleeve is a common move in John Woo films, as it's also seen in Just Heroes and Blackjack.
Umarex GPDA9
An Umarex GPDA9, a blank-firing replica of the Browning BDA, is used by several Triad members in the nightclub shootout. Shortly after, it is used once again by other Triads, Wong Hung (Wong Kwong-Leung), and Li Ying (Danny Lee) at the gun deal scene and the bus chase. The GPDA continues to be used by Triad members throughout the film. Near the end of the film, Fung Sei (Chu Kong) briefly commandeers one in his attempt to retrieve Ah Jong's (Chow Yun-Fat) money from Wong Hoi (Shing Fui-On). This weapon also appears to be used with a suppressor by a Triad assassin who attacks Ah Jong in his apartment.
Bruni Combat
A 8mm blank-firing Desert Eagle replica Bruni Combat is seen in the briefcase given to Ah Jong by Fung Sei.
Auto Ordnance M1911A1
Wong Hoi (Shing Fui-On) uses an Auto Ordnance M1911A1 at the end of the film, in addition to an unidentified snub nose revolver in his other hand.
Browning Hi-Power
During the weapons deal, a thug is seen with a very early model Browning Hi-Power. This pistol is later used by Inspector Li Ying (Danny Lee) during the climax of the film. It's noted as by the front sight and finger indentation on the slide, and the adjustable sight.
Smith & Wesson 39
A Smith & Wesson 39 is seen in a gun case along with several revolvers and a Browning BDA replica during the weapons deal.
Glock 17
A first generation Glock 17 is seen in the gun case.
Revolvers
Colt Lawman Mk III
The Colt Lawman Mk III is frequently used by Inspector Li Ying (Danny Lee).
Taurus Model 85
A Taurus Model 85 with pearl grips is used by Ah Jong during his first hit, and is the weapon that results in Jennie's blinding due to Ah Jong firing too close to her eyes, setting up the main plot of the film.
Taurus Model 689
A heavily modified stainless Taurus Model 689 is used by Ah Jong in the parking garage scene where he kills several of Wong Hoi's men and at one point shoots Wong Hoi. The squib-filled fake arm used by Shing Fui-On for the scene came off during shooting, making it look like Ah Jong had blown Wong Hoi's arm off. Fung Sei also commandeers another Taurus Model 689 (this one blued) in his final attempt to get Ah Jong's money.
Smith & Wesson Model 29
The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is seen in a briefcase given to Ah Jong by his friend Fung Sei.
Smith & Wesson Model 10
Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers are carried by Hong Kong police officers at the end of the film.
Smith & Wesson Model 36
A Smith & Wesson Model 36 is used by Sergeant Tsang Yeh (Kenneth Tsang), at one point, commandeered from him by Ah Jong.
Shotguns
Remington 870
A Remington 870 with a pistol grip in place of a standard stock and fitted with an extended magazine tube is used by Inspector Li Ying (Danny Lee) in the church shootout.
Smith & Wesson 3000
A short barrel Smith & Wesson 3000 with a pistol grip and the stock removed can be seen in the hands of the bartender at Ah Jong's first hit of the film. Ah Jong also uses it during the final shootout.
Franchi PA3
A Franchi PA3 is used by Frank Chen (Ricky Yi Fan-Wai) at Jennie's beach house and in the church. During the beach house shootout, it appears to be depicted as a grenade launcher, as anything it hits explodes. It is possible, however, these explosions are just typically over-the-top John Woo shotgun special effects.
Submachine Guns
Uzi
One of the assassins in Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat)'s apartment uses an Uzi fitted with a suppressor. Several Uzis are later used by Triad members during the church shootout. According to the film's armorer, the Uzis used in the film were a mix of original Israeli-made Uzis and Chinese-made Norinco 320 copies.
Beretta M12
A Beretta M12 submachine gun is used by Ah Jong and several Triad members in the beach house shootout, and later shows up during the church shootout.
Heckler & Koch MP5K
A Heckler & Koch MP5K with two magazines clamped together is used by Ah Jong in the church, and later handed off to Li Ying. MP5Ks are also used by many of the Triads, including Wong Hoi (Shing Fui-On). At the time of filming, the MP5K was relatively uncommon in action films, having only appeared in Lethal Weapon 2 and L.A. Takedown the same year.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3
Hong Kong police officers at the airport are seen carrying Heckler & Koch MP5A3s with slimline handguards. The MP5A3s in this scene appear to be airsoft weapons.
Rifles
SVD Dragunov (Mock-Up)
The rifle used by Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) to carry out his assassination plot is a long barreled Chinese Norinco Type 56 assault rifle that was visually modified to look like a Russian SVD Dragunov. The armorers were unable to acquire a real SVD or NDM-86 (the Chinese SVD clone) for the filming of the scene, so they were forced to visually modify a Type 56 rifle instead. The rifle that Ah Jong drops into the sea was a Japanese airsoft AK-47 that was also modified by the armorers to look like an SVD.
Trivia: Before Ah Jong fires the SVD, he wraps a bandana around his left hand. At the time that this scene was filmed, Chow Yun-Fat was simultaneously working on Tiger on the Beat; on the set of that film, he cut his finger on the front sight of a Sterling Mk IV submachine gun during a stunt. Afterwards, he went straight to the set of The Killer to film the assassination scene, with his hand still injured and the bandana wrapped around it. John Woo decided to include this in the film.
M16A1
The first assassin at the beach that tries to kill Ah Jong (Chow Yun-Fat) after the hit on Wong Dung-Yu (Teddy Yip Wing-Cho) uses an M16A1 rifle that has an M16A2-style handguard. The rifle has a scope mounted on top of the carry handle and has a 20 round magazine.
Colt Model 733
Colt Model 733 rifles are used by several of Triad members in the shootout at Jennie's beach house. Strangely, all of the M733s in the film are fitted with the outdated (even for the 1980s) three-prong flash hiders, rather than the M16A1-style "bird-cage" flash hider.
Norinco Type 56-1
A Chinese Norinco Type 56-1 is used by Inspector Li Ying (Danny Lee) in the church shootout, and by several gangsters throughout the film. The Type 56-1 used in the film is fitted with an M16A1-style "bird-cage" flash hider, most likely taken from a Norinco Type 84S.
