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John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4

The Baba Yaga is back in a thrilling film that literally never ceases to entertain with an endless supply of action sequences.

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The John Wick series has a bit of a 'you know what you are getting' design. Anyone who is heading to a theatre for one of these films understands that they'll be in store for a couple of hours of Keanu Reeves mercilessly slaughtering tons of essentially faceless hitmen, and yet despite this being the case, we flock to theatres all the same. Why? Because this is action of the finest quality. The choreography, the star power, the thrill, the cinematography, every part of these films keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch Reeves' Wick effortlessly chew through hundreds of threats. But now that the fourth instalment in the series is here, is it getting to be monotonous and predictable, or has director Chad Stahelski proved again that the Baba Yaga is arguably still this film era's greatest action character?

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Well let me just say right off the bat that John Wick: Chapter 4 is the best John Wick film we've had yet. This movie is thrilling, engaging, perfectly paced, marvellously choreographed, well acted, beautifully and creatively shot, and even has a welcome bit of humour and personality baked in. It's the ultimate action ride and while it isn't perfect, it does so much right that it's hard not to thoroughly love it.

As we all come to a John Wick film for the fight scenes, this movie has plenty and then some. With the film clocking in at just shy of three hours, there's more action here than in some movies altogether, and it's meaningful action as well that never feels like it is repeating itself, as Stahelski, Reeves, and the stunt crew show their talent and creativity and prove that there really are countless ways to execute a man. If you ever had a doubt that the Oscars need a stunt category, this film is the perfect proof of why it should be present.

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But it's not just the excellent choreography that elevates this film, it's the way that Stahelski angles and captures it. The set design and the ambience is remarkable and makes you truly invested in where Wick is in the world. Between the neo-noir setting in Japan, to the almost cyberpunk-aesthetic in Berlin, the set design, matched up with the thumping bass-heavy soundtrack that reverberates through your ears, and the creative shots that always give you new perspective to appreciate the violence (the video game-like top-down segment was the cream of the crop) makes your heart race and long for the next usually 20-minute long action sequence.

John Wick: Chapter 4
Photo: IMDb

No doubt many will see the almost three-hour runtime and cringe, but this film uses every moment of it well. The action, as I've noted a bunch, is excellent, but by the time that each major fight sequence concludes, you're ready for some narrative and plot development, and this is when we get to see the cast shine in their roles. Ian McShane's Winston is just as wise as ever, Donnie Yen's Caine almost steals the show, Bill Skarsgård's Marquis is a vindictive, cruel, and foreboding presence, but it's the smaller roles that really excel in this film. A lot of films couldn't handle bringing on so many new faces for momentary appearances before they ultimately exit (or more commonly, get executed), yet the character development and the portrayals are so high-quality that it works here. And in the spirit of this, to say that one of the best moments in a John Wick movie isn't a fight scene may be a cardinal sin, but the five-card draw scene in Berlin is a mighty strong contender.

However, as I mentioned at the start of the review, John Wick: Chapter 4 isn't perfect, and it does have a few issues with its overarching narrative. It's a typical situation where the writers know we come for the fights, and because of this some crucial narrative beats are either left out or not explored at all. You have to make assumptions a lot of the time to fill in some important gaps as you can see that a bunch of different characters and storylines are being intentionally left unconcluded or explained all so that spinoffs and likely further sequels can pick up and unpack them. For a film that spans 170 minutes, you'd think that there would be enough time to bake in some solutions.

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John Wick: Chapter 4

But still, as far as action goes, John Wick: Chapter 4 ticks all the boxes. This is the best John Wick film we have had yet, and while the future of the character may be shrouded with a great deal of mystery, as Stahelski, Reeves, and creator Derek Kolstad think about what's next for the Baba Yaga, this movie has the emotion, thrill, entertainment, creativity, pacing, and even occasional bit of witty humour to keep cinemagoers thoroughly engaged all throughout. If you're looking for a way to spend three hours, this film is the way to do it in March.

09 Gamereactor UK
9 / 10
overall score
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