Image: Disclosure/Netflix
Released in theaters in June this year, Hit Man has finally arrived on Brazilian streaming, bringing with it a surprise. While in the United States it was an exclusive Netflix premiere, here it was Amazon Prime Video's privilege to bring the story starring Glenn Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) to the public.
The film tells the story of Gary Johnson, a divorced college professor who is called to the police force for a difficult mission: to pose as a hitman. Over time, he discovers that he has a taste for the role and seems to have been born to play it. However, some events may make him decide to turn fiction into reality.
In addition to Powell's performance, The Accidental Killer drew attention for being inspired by a story that really happened. While not everything in the film is realistic, Gary Johnson made his mark as a convincing hitman who helped put many people in prison.
Who is Gary Johnson, inspiration for The Accidental Killer?
While the protagonist of The Accidental Killer is a master of disguise, the real-life version of the detective was quite different. He wasn't known for changing his appearance, voice or mannerisms, but rather for being quite charming and having a convincing way of making others believe he was a professional killer.
The real-life Gary Johnson wasn't exactly a master of disguiseSource: Disclosure/Netflix
Gary Johnson, who passed away in 2022, was born in rural Louisiana in 1947 and first saw combat during the Vietnam War. Despite his desire to teach psychology at the university level, he struggled to pursue his dream and ended up opting for a career in law enforcement.
Working as an investigator for the Houston, Texas, district attorney's office, Johnson was faced with a case in 1989 that would change his life forever. He was forced to play a hitman in an investigation involving 37-year-old Kathy Scott, who had ordered the murder of her husband of only four months.
Using a biker disguise, the investigator met Kathy at a bowling alley, where she ordered the crime and paid $100 for it to be carried out. The request ended up being used against the woman in court, resulting in her being sentenced to 80 years in prison..
The man who inspired The Accidental Killer explained to Texas Monthly that he never killed anyone and that he generally dealt with people who were not violent or had criminal histories. To him, most of his “clients” were just frustrated with life and wanted a quick solution to their problems, “which has become the American way.”
Fake killer led a discreet life
Contrary to what the film might suggest, Johnson did not lead a wild life or engage in forbidden affairs. When he was not undercover, he was often in the DA's office working on recording equipment and making copies of tapes.
The protagonist of The Accidental Killer bears few similarities to his real-life inspiration.Source: Disclosure/Netflix
In his spare time, he lived a quiet life devoted to meditation, gardening, and tending to goldfish. He also taught classes on human sexuality and psychology at the local university two nights a week. According to his second wife, Sunny, the police officer actually transformed when he assumed the persona of a fake killer.
While this helped his career, Johnson admitted that his ability to act cold was a result of his trouble maintaining relationships. As a result, he ended up getting married and divorced three times and was known for acting distant around others.
According to director Richard Linklater, The Accidental Killer uses some characteristics of the real man, but many of the adventures in the film are completely fictional. He states that, although he listened to the recordings made by the police officer, Johnson had no direct involvement in the production of the feature film.