Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Glacial
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Moderate
- meditative
- enigmatic
- dreamy
- quiet evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s extraordinary visual artistry and fresh reinvention of wuxia while acknowledging that its glacial, enigmatic pacing can alienate viewers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film uses sparse, highly controlled action amid long pauses, silence, and carefully composed landscapes.
Nie Yinniang is ordered to kill her former betrothed while confronting her enduring feelings for him.
The Tang-era political relationships and character histories emerge through terse exchanges, visual details, and unexplained transitions.
Hou Hsiao-hsien frames forests, interiors, veils, and distant figures with subdued colors and meticulously composed depth.
Films like The Assassin, and why
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
shared wuxia setting, disciplined martial-arts choreography, and contemplative visual restraint
Hero
shared poetic martial-arts world, romantic conflict, and sumptuous period imagery
A Touch of Zen
shared slow cinema pacing, formal austerity, and emotionally restrained historical drama
House of Flying Daggers
shared meditative atmosphere, elliptical storytelling, and female-centered martial-arts drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Release Date
- 2015-08-27
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (576)
Cast
- Shu Qi
- Chang Chen
- Zhou Yun
- Satoshi Tsumabuki
- Ni Dahong
- Yong Mei
- Lei Zhenyu
- Nikki Hsieh
- Ethan Juan
- Sheu Fang-Yi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, Pinoy Box Office Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Assassin about?
- A luminous Tang-dynasty wuxia meditation follows an elite assassin torn between sacred duty and forbidden tenderness.
- What is The Assassin like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Assassin as glacial, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is The Assassin violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Assassin as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Assassin?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s extraordinary visual artistry and fresh reinvention of wuxia while acknowledging that its glacial, enigmatic pacing can alienate viewers.
- Which films are like The Assassin?
- Films with a similar feel include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, A Touch of Zen, and House of Flying Daggers.
- How long is The Assassin?
- The Assassin runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Assassin?
- In United States, The Assassin streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH, Midnight Pulp, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, Pinoy Box Office Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
