'John Wick: Chapter Four' Review: A Neon-Soaked, Jaw-Dropping Spectacle
The baba yaga has returned yet again in john wick: chapter four, a sequel that not only manages to surpass its impressive predecessors with effortless flair, but deliver some of the best action ever put to celluloid.
After going to war with The High Table in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, the titular assassin is set on a bloody path to secure his freedom yet again, facing off against a formidable new enemy named The Marquis (Bill Skarsgard), who has powerful connections around the globe. Franchise star Keanu Reeves returns to the fold as John Wick, joined by returning cast members Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and the late Lance Reddick.
It’s clear from the outset that this is going to be a sequel significantly grander in visual and emotional scope. The production design and cinematography are simply dazzling, casting a gorgeous backdrop for Wick and this cast of colorful characters to inhabit. Director Chad Stahelski, who helmed the previous two entries on his own, has truly outdone himself here. The action set pieces, choreography, and direction are stellar, each sequence able to top the dizzying one that came before it. There’s a vast amount of creativity on display in these sequences, fully utilizing the rich, neon-soaked environments where the blood and gunshots fly mercilessly. The camerawork is wonderful and dynamic, delivering countless moments that are sure to make audiences’ jaws drop in astonishment.
However, what makes this the best installment in the franchise yet is its winning combination of further world building and character development. The mythology of the series has helped distinguish itself and stand apart from other entries in the genre, each installment adding more layers to this world, its characters, and the rules they must play by in order to survive and not face dire consequences. This new entry introduces various new characters, all of which are given time to shine and be fleshed out, the standouts being Skarsgard’s Marquis and Donnie Yen’s Caine. Caine, who is a longtime friend of John’s, is forced by The Marquis to hunt down and kill his former friend, becoming the film’s most unpredictable, charismatic character by a landslide. Yen is unsurprisingly hypnotic during the action sequences, but his performance is fun, engaging, and emotionally compelling. His scenes with Wick are easily some of the best in the film, their shared history and anguish over their current rivalry on full display throughout.
The film also explores the consequences of John’s actions from the previous films to great effect. The choices he’s made and the people who have been killed because he’s caused them to be in harm’s way has started to take a toll on John, which Reeves conveys extremely well. What started as a quest to avenge the death of his dog that was gifted to him by his late wife has turned into a blood-soaked road to freedom which he may never fully obtain until death. Wick tries to put up a cold, steely exterior, but beneath his bulletproof suit lies a man who has not only lost many people he holds dear, but much of his humanity as well. With each new kill, he’s more Baba Yaga than John Wick, something the film and Reeves demonstrate beautifully. This is not a mindless action franchise, but one that has much to say about the lengths we’re willing to go for those we love and the consequences of our actions.
The only minor issue the film suffers from is that it’s by far and away the installment most separated from reality. While the first film was relatively grounded, each subsequent film has made Wick more and more of an invincible character. The hits, falls, and wounds he sustains during the course of the film would either severely injury or kill someone, but he simply gets up, shakes it off, and gets back to work. While this aspect of the character can certainly be fun, there are numerous instances, especially in this fourth film, where it becomes very difficult to suspend disbelief. We’re now in a world where seemingly everyone is an assassin with bulletproof suits and awful aim if they’re not John Wick. It’s a minor nitpick, but one that sticks out here more so than in the previous entries.
John Wick: Chapter Four is a remarkable piece of action filmmaking. Stahelski, Reeves, and their incredible stunt team have crafted some of the most visually stunning, exhilarating action sequences ever made, all within an emotionally satisfying fourth story that expands its world and characters in exciting new ways. It may seem like hyperbole to say, but once audiences see the film for themselves, that will come across as an understatement. This is not only one of the best action films ever made, but one of the best franchises the genre has to offer.