JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Prior to the release of John Wick in 2014, Keanu Reeves was best known for appearing in the sci-fi series, The Matrix, and in action packed films such as Speed and Point Break. One of Reeves’ earliest roles was as Ted Logan alongside Alex Winters as Bill S. Preston in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. However, Reeves’ role as the assassin, John Wick, represented the Canadian actor at his most serious. John Wick was successful, both with critics, who praised Reeves’ fierce performance and the thrilling action, and with audiences, making a total of $86 million at the box office. Its success led to a sequel being released three years later, simply known as Chapter Two and focused on Wick returning to his violent lifestyle after a friend from his past returns with a blood oath. The sequel concluded with Wick on the run with a $20 million bounty on his head. Critics continued to be impressed, with Chapter Two becoming more successful than its predecessor after earning over $174 million. The third film, Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which is Latin for “prepare for war”, was released in 2019, and continued to focus Wick on the run and killing his attackers in brutally violent ways. The story ended on a cliffhanger with Wick being presumed dead before it’s revealed that he managed to survive after being shot. Parabellum proved to be a hit with both critics and audiences, making over $327 million at the box office. Four years later, the fourth film has finally been released, however, is it just as action packed and brutally violent as its predecessor or a disappointing follow up? 

The fourth chapter focuses on John Wick who 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.

Since its premiere at the South by Southwest Festival in March, John Wick Chapter 4 has received a positive response from critics, with most of their praise going towards Reeves’ portrayal of the titular hitman. Undoubtedly, the role of Wick represents Reeves at his best. While he’s not necessarily the best at delivering lines, he can handle the stunts exceptionally well and that’s where his performance excels. Actions speak louder than words and that’s the case with Wick, who rarely speaks, with the majority of the film’s lengthy 169 minute runtime focusing on him in action. Director Chad Stahelski rarely gives Wick and his audiences enough time to stop for breath, with every other scene a violent fight sequence between the hitman and various attackers who want to kill him in order to receive the pricey bounty. Those who are looking for a thriller that is packed full of violent fights and exhilarating action will not be disappointed with what Stahelski has created with John Wick: Chapter 4. However, I can imagine that, because it features more of the same as its three predecessors, there will be those becoming exasperated by Wick’s seemingly endless fights. 

The strength of the John Wick films has always lied in the impressive stunts. Because a lot of actors rely on professional stunt doubles during dangerous action sequences, it’s all the more impressive when an actor performs the stunt themselves. That is what always stood out about Reeves’ performance as Wick who rarely holds back from his violent actions. It’s not surprising that the fight sequences are well choreographed as Stahelski is a stuntman and was previously Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix films. It’s clear that both actor and director have a strong working relationship, with both of them understanding what makes the John Wick films so successful and that’s the thrilling and violent fights and adrenaline pumping stunts. Although Reeves is in his late fifties, he shows no sign of slowing down or any weakness which makes his role as Wick a standout in his impressive forty year career. 

Since its release in cinemas just over a week ago, John Wick Chapter 4 has topped both the box office in the United States and United Kingdom and has become the most successful film in the franchise yet. Although the ending is definitive, fans of the franchise can look forward to a spin-off, Ballerina, which is set to be released next year and stars Ana de Armas as an assassin who seeks revenge on those who killed her family and will see the return of Reeves as Wick.

With a runtime of nearly three hours, John Wick: Chapter 4 represents the action packed franchise at its most epic and provides fans with what they’ve come to expect and that’s John Wick in action violently killing his attackers.

8/10