4.5.23
It’s remarkable how after four films and over 420 kills to his name, John Wick as a character still feels like an underdog. Although the central appeal of the main story is seeing Wick dispatch as many enemies in as many creative ways as possible, the films wouldn’t work if we knew for sure he was going to survive each outing. I think that core element, rather than the expanded background lore, vibrant cinematography and a roster of likeable characters new and old makes John Wick: Chapter 4 a truly excellent action film which exceeds chapters 2 and 3. But I still prefer the first one, just about.
Getting the obvious out of the way, Chapter 4 boasts impressive technical aspects, including first-class fight choreography, sound design, and visual effects. Even watching this in a standard 2D screening one month after its global release did nothing to distract my full attention from the screen. It’s over 2 hours and 40 minutes long but it flies by, simply because this is such a high-octane film. Perhaps only the recent Mission Impossible entries come close in their ability to allow so much intense action to be fully engrossing without it feeling like an assault on the senses. There are some fanciful parts, such as the stairway scene in Paris, which delivered an exasperated audience groan, but some of the other silly moments are so slapstick and entertaining, such as the Berlin fight scene with Scott Adkins’ immensely watchable Killa Harkan.
Something else that I loved which I didn’t get a feel for in the previous films was how much John Wick: Chapter 4 took me back to some of my favourite childhood video games. The neon lights and EDM soundtrack reminds me of the seminal sidescroller Streets of Rage, with its four main city locations acting as game ‘stages’, each with an ‘end of stage’ boss fight. Further, some of the unique top-down camera work, such as when John is on the rampage inside a Paris apartment reminded me of games which utilise the same character perspective, such as the classic Smash TV and more recently Hotline Miami. I have no idea if director Chad Stahelski and his DP are even fans of these games, but for a film to produce such memorable and unique visual moments 2 hours into an action film is a bold approach that I certainly admire. It didn’t take me out of the film; it just made the enjoyment that much richer. More fire shotguns in action films please!
John Wick more than satisfies as the final film of the main franchise and in no way disrespects the lasting legacy and surprise factor of the first movie. It embraces the frenzied style and sense of unflinching will that made its predecessors so popular, which happily pushes the bladders and eyeballs of the audience to the limit. You’ll walk out of it feeling exhausted and that’s exactly the point. There may be no Chapter 5 for the time being, but to see the renaissance of Keanu Reeves manifested through such a great character has been a joy to behold over an exemplary action saga. Long live Baba Yaga.