John Wick has only ever wanted a peaceful life, but the powers sat around The High Table have made that virtually impossible. Now officially excommunicado, John Wick is once again on the run from an entire army of assassins and mercenaries. It’s Baba Yaga vs the entire world. Mr. Wick has one chance for peace, but it’s a bold one. With something to fight for, the stakes have never been higher. John Wick: Chapter 4 will fight its way onto the big screen on March 24th- You won’t want to miss it.
Synopsis
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
Review
The thing about John Wick as a franchise that is so incredibly impressive is how it has progressed and flourished. Looking back at the first film, it’s fair to say that we were presented with a pretty simplistic film. It was a revenge story that we could all get behind. The franchise then evolved into something else entirely. It completely transformed. Chapter 2 and Parabellum introduced a rich mythology that encompassed the entire globe, and John Wick was at the very centre… As the High Table’s personal killing machine.
John Wick: Chapter 4 continues to further enrich that lore. We dive further into the workings of The High Table, their heirarchy, as well as John’s history with The Table and its other highly skilled assets. The John Wick franchise is still very much focused on delivering that satisfying action, but it also revels in the highly detailed and visually beautiful world it has created through the use of characters, locations and the utilisation of the lore.
Through The High Table, John Wick: Chapter 4 launches us into the centre of the criminal underworld that is full of the world’s finest and most wicked crimelords. The John Wick franchise is full of interesting characters, but Chapter 4 ups the scale and scope tenfold with an array of vastly intruiging, absolutely despicable, and even remarkably friendly and honourable characters. There is a uniqueness to each new character and they all do an amazing job at standing out, which almost feels like an impossible task when John Wick enters the fight… But they all hold their own.
Donnie Yen absolutely shines as Caine who essentially acts as a mirror of Wick; they are both lethal artists who have made unbearable sacrifices for those they love. Yen brings life to Caine and gives him a softer edge. He’s still a deadly force of nature, but there’s a subtle kindness to him. The chemistry between the two, despite Caine being a new character, is immediate. It’s like a deadly spark that dances delicately on the border of “friend” and “foe”. It’s a masterful relationship that is fun and tragic. Yen is an exceptional addition to the franchise and his presence is an instant highlight.
On the other end of the table, you have The Marquis, played brilliantly by Bill Skarsgård. In terms of John Wick villains, The Marquis de Gramont is the worst of the worst, in the best way possible. The Marquis is deliciously evil. He’s a devil in disguise. There’s a delicate and courteous nature to him that hides his real nature. Skarsgård balances on the line between this distinguished gentleman and a bratty teenager. It gradually escalates, but he’s always there to remind you of his power. He may act like a petulant child, but he’s a ranking member of The Table for a reason and Skarsgård conveys that sense of power perfectly. You’ll love to hate him.
Characters are obviously important, but John Wick has this wonderful tendency to pay careful attention to the settings. In a way, the settings become characters as well. From the beautiful blossom trees and traditional style of Japan, to the rich and historic streets of Paris, Chapter 4 takes us on a journey unlike anything we’ve seen from the franchise. With each location housing a new crimelord we’re able to see how they operate and how they differ visually and characteristically. The difference in aesthetics not only allows the film to explore some of the world’s most visually stunning locations, it also allows the film to experiment…
Now, this is where the fun begins.
Without a doubt, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the most innovative and unapologetically creative action movie ever to grace the big screen. That’s quite the statement, but honestly… It’s a title worthy of John Wick: Chapter 4. The stunts are bigger, bolder, and far more flamboyant. With the addition of some of the greatest martial art experts in the world (Yen and Scott Adkins), Chapter 4 delivers some of the most imaginative and fluid hand-to-hand fight scenes in cinema. They pack a punch and look absolutely amazing on the big screen. There’s also a really satisfying convergence of culture and environments whereby John and the cast adapt to their surroundings and utilise what’s available. For Wick, it feels as though that martial arts spirit that Keanu Reeves has carefully nutured is allowed to breath more freely, rather than simply being reduced to just a gun. There’s a playfulness to it all and it’s just mindblowing escapism at its best.
If you’ve ever wondered what John Wick would do in a room full of ancient Japanese weapons… Chapter 4 presents that answer on a silver and bloodied platter.
Mr Wick may be a tad more experimental in his executions, but he’s at his most dangerous when he’s weilding a gun, and it’s one of the best things about this franchise and this fourth film takes things to the next level. The level of creativey and coordination that goes into each and every conflict is absolutely outstanding, but the icing on the cake is a single shot fight scene that will forever be remembered. We won’t go into details but you’ll know it when it arrives. Chapter 4 is peek John Wick in regards to ruthlessness, straight up insanity and ingenuity. You’ll laugh at the helplessness of some of the goons, gawk at the killer finishers, and smile with the utmost delight when certain characters get their comeuppance. The action in Chapter 4 delivers and checks every box imaginable. It also further highlights the need to reward and recognise stunt teams. They deserve the recogniition anyway, but Chapter 4 just confirms this dire necessity to celebrate stunt work and fight choreographers. They are the magicians that help make films such as John Wick a reality.
Chapter 4 also takes a rather surprising turn. Amongst the choas and bloodshed, there is actually a heartfelt story that is buried under the ridiculous body count. When the dust settles, things become quite emotional and soft. For characters like Caine and Wick, violence is all they have ever known. But there are moments of tranquility and peace and they stand out because of the scarcity of that peace. The very notion that John Wick could be happy is absurd, yet Chapter 4 approaches it head-on. These sentiments elevate the film, and while John may be a man of few words… You can truly sympathise with him. The last 30 minutes of Chapter 4 is so, so special because there’s an intimacy there that feels almost foreign to this franchise, but Chad Stahelski completely embraces it.
Verdict
John Wick: Chapter 4 is John Wick at his best. This film takes the core components of the franchise and cranks up the voltage. With a diverse cast, absolutely stunning action scenes, beautiful and inspired cinematography, and Keanu Reeves at the centre, Chapter 4 will easily go down as the best film in the franchise and the greatest action film ever, period.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out the action-packed trailer below:
John Wick Chapter 4, directed by Chad Stahelski, stars Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Ian McShane.
