If there’s one franchise that has successfully asserted its dominance in the modern neo-noir action genre the credit deservedly goes to the John Wick films with the latest 4th installment elevating the bar to new heights!
This dark, gritty, and stylistic cinematic masterpiece serves as a constant reminder that vintage action films with original characters set in a world constantly evolving through high stakes, unforgiving danger, and complex plotlines can be just as entertaining and commercially viable as a standard MCU film.
In John Wick: Chapter 4 we see Keanu Reeves taking full ownership of the title character he’s portrayed for nearly a decade, a character that has gradually grown to become a cultural icon. Reeves showcases that he still has enough left in the tank as he suits up and delivers one of his most subtle, powerful, dramatic and emotionally-charged performances in recent memory.
In this all-new fresh installment, John Wick AKA the “Baba Yaga” takes the audience and us hardcore fans alike on an epic rollercoaster ride of a journey as he prepares himself to take on the High Table both physically and psychologically. After putting his body through the grueling events of the previous film, Wick is now a man on a mission to exact revenge against the crime lords he formerly served under. To make matters worse, he’s still in exile from the assassin’s underworld, which means no gold coins in exchange for services, no doctors, no finding refuge at The Continental, and most importantly, no security from Winston.
In this film the odds are significantly stacked against Wick to a much greater extent than the last film. If the situation wasn’t already dire enough, the High Table has sent the mysterious and cunning Marquis de Gramont (played by Bill Skarsgård) to complicate Wick’s life even further by obstructing him from accomplishing his mission through whatever means necessary. To permanently break free from the High Table, John and his dogged mentality will have to battle his way across the globe, dragging his battered body from the Osaka Continental to Berlin nightclubs to the streets of Paris before finally confronting the man who has made his life a living hell.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for Wick just yet. The returning Bowery King (played by Lauren Fishburne), a former underground crime boss who was left for dead by the High Table and has now allied himself with Wick, as well as a vengeful Winston (Ian McShane) who now hopes to achieve his own personal vendetta against his former superiors, joins Wick in his quest for salvation.
Rounding off this all-star ensemble cast in this brand new tale is the welcome addition of Hong Kong martial arts star Donnie Yen portraying Caine – a blind assassin and old friend from Wick’s past. Both Caine and John share parallel journeys whilst struggling to come to terms with their own respective tragedies. Caine’s story arc sees him being assigned by the High Table to hunt down and kill John Wick after forcing him out of retirement by threatening to murder his daughter. Recognizing the inevitable consequences of either choice, Caine makes a difficult decision and ultimately accepts his fate by pursuing John despite the fact that one of them has to die. Yen delivers one of his finest and nuanced performances on screen, a performance that is certainly deserving of an Academy Award.
Other new players who are introduced for the first time into the series include Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada), manager of the Osaka Continental and Shamier Anderson portraying the Tracker, a bounty hunter pursuing Wick in exchange for financial gain from the High Table.
Aside from the layered story and engaging dialogue, the film features some of the best gun fu action sequences that will consistently keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the entire film. If you want a movie that will trigger your adrenaline and get your blood pumping, then this film is your stop!
In addition to watching bullets fly everywhere, the movie features new forms of combat for the first time that will definitely make you come back wanting more. From archery to MMA-style brawls to stylishly beautiful sword fights, if you are new to the franchise, you couldn’t ask for a better introduction than this!
Director Chad Stahelski maintains his reputation as one of the best action directors working in Hollywood today. From car chase sequences to close quarters combat to heavy dialogue transitions, he always knows when to say “Cut!” before the film moves on to the next scene.
As the dust settles, we’ll remove all filters and declare that John Wick: Chapter 4 is the year’s most emphatic, explosive and beautifully haunting thriller that will leave audiences with a satisfied yet bittersweet feeling. It’s one of those rare generational spectacles that shows up once in every decade. At end of the day if you’re a true cinephile at heart and really enjoy watching films at theaters, instead of streaming flicks on Netflix, then I suggest you go buy a ticket and grab a large box of popcorn because John Wick: Chapter 4 makes you feel what it’s like to be inside an action film with thunderous noise and guns blazing everywhere!