John Wick 4 Film Review

It’s a safe bet that if you are interested in watching John Wick: Chapter 4, you don’t need this review to convince you otherwise. Which is good, because this review will be biased. I not only love this series, but I am a fangirl of the action team behind it. What Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves, and the phenomenal team at 87 Eleven have done with Chapter 4 has left this fan not only in awe but a belief that the landscape of action films of the future has been forever changed.

This fourth installment in the John Wick universe still sees our hero, John Wick (Reeves) on the continued run for his life from the High Table. While the path forward is plagued with even deadlier obstacles, redemption finally seems within reach. That is if only he can survive one last night. Chapter 4 not only brings Wick face-to-face with friends from his past and foes from his present but also witnesses John and his associates interact with the new head of The High Table, Marquis (Bill Skarsgard). With the mix of breathtaking views from around the world and the heart-stopping action, John Wick: Chapter 4 is nothing as we’ve seen before.

Let’s take a moment and reflect on past films. With each film, John Wick sees more and more complicated barriers placed in his way. These barriers vary from multiplying assassins to the complications surrounding his markers. And after 3 previous films filled with wonderful, edge-of-your-seat action sequences, you can’t possibly think Staheliski and 87 Eleven have anything else in their grab-bag weapons and sequences to include in Chapter 4. How wrong we were. 

My mouth was agape for most of the movie. Every scene is built on the previous one to expand the story, the greater the risk the greater the reward. It’s hard to talk about any of these fantastic sequences without giving away the excitement, cause you need to experience it by going in blind. (For the few that have yet to see it.) I will give you keywords though, in no particular order: nunchucks, aerial POV, Arc de Triomphe, and stairs. I know I’m forgetting so much more, but these now live in my action heart.

The one critique I have, and you can take it or leave it. I wish, for once, a group of hired guns, that when they get the text about John Wick’s bounty, would put their phones down and ignore the temptation. You know no one is surviving if John Wick is involved.

I haven’t been shy about my love of the action genre, it’s been ingrained in me since birth. I grew up in the 80s, when (arguably) action films were born, and while those films will always hold a special place in my heart, they have nothing on the evolution that has happened since. These new films are full of purposeful action. There is a motivation behind the sequences, things happen for a reason, not for spectacle's sake. For me, that’s what separates 87 Eleven’s productions from the rest of the genre. You can tell that they honor the root of modern action, and martial arts, and highlight each form and discipline within their characters. The cast of John Wick: Chapter 4 not only has a variety of noble characters, but some heavy hitters in the martial arts action world. 

Keanu Reeves (John Wick): I would never have thought that Reeves would be prominent in the world of action. Embarrassingly, I wasn’t interested in seeing John Wick. Yet, the more and more behind-the-scenes clips and interviews, I realize he’s not just a practitioner, but he redirects acclaim to the stunt team. He is humble and honorable, hardworking, and a true student of the craft of martial arts. My respect and awe have grown, and I am forever changed by what he accomplished during this series.  

Marko Zaror (Chidi): I’m relatively new to Zaror and his colossal ability to perform elaborate stunts. I am a growing fan of his bombastic presence on screen, and I love the ties he has to Austin films (Machete Kills and Alita: Battle Angel.) Zaror is a perfect example of the evolution of modern action. We don’t just need martial arts for stunt teams, we need them in front of the camera. Chidi’s fearlessness and fear-inducing energy was an element that raised the action bar in Chapter 4. 

Scott Adkins (Killa): Unrecognizable, but you knew that grace anywhere. Adkins is one of those actors I have been paying more and more attention to thanks to my elbow rubbing of the world of stunts. When you look at his filmography (Ip Man 4, Triple Threat, Doctor Strange) you can get a sense of how varied his talent truly is. He is trained in multiple forms of martial arts, and seeing all of them play out in different ways on screen for any given character is a joy to watch. And like Zaror, his addition added a deeper sense of dread for John Wick and his journey.

Hiroyuki Sanada (Shimazu): Mr. Sanada. He’s one of those actors that I get excited about when I see him on the cast list. His characters always have such internal strength, equal parts honor, and loyalty. There is always an air of prestige surrounding these characters, and when you mix that with his breathtaking action sequences, you are left speechless and in awe.

Donnie Yen (Caine): Another legendary actor who really doesn’t need an introduction, Mr. Yen. As someone who works in visually impaired education, I would be thrilled if Yen continues to play blind characters. (Side note: I need a Caine Funko to “watch” over me in my braille office.) He’s always phenomenal to watch, but as Caine, he elevates his body awareness and also honors spacial awareness. The added tools he has in his arsenal, like motion sensors, were brilliant to watch. You may ask how a blind assassin works without force, well you get your answer. Yes, the inclusion of Yen in Chapter 4 obviously raises the bar, but in a way, because he was included everyone else rose up to meet him. They weren’t messing around with this last chapter. 

The above heavy hitters weren’t the only ones playing with metaphoric action fire and not getting burned. I was introduced to two newcomers, but you better believe I’m newly obsessed.

Shamier Anders (Tracker): Taking a look at Anders's credits, you can sense there is something big in the works. I think Tracker is my favorite new addition to the series. He’s mysterious and honorable, he fits nicely into this world. Who doesn’t dig a Wing Chun practitioner with a fierce support dog by his side? (I am also throwing cannon into this review, I was hoping it was revealed he was Sofia’s son.)

Rina Sawayama (Akira): Moving between entertainment mediums is never easy, but what Sawayama was able to accomplish in John Wick: Chapter 4 was superb. I had no idea she was a world-famous pop star, nor would I have ever guessed that from this project. Honestly, if I would have known that going in, I might not have been as welcoming (I can be a bit of a snob), but she blew me away. I have no doubt her dancing background helped her because she looked at total ease. Like a total badass, you never felt she couldn’t handle the High Table goons from the moment their threat was felt. I hope this isn’t the last we see of her in the action world, cause she is a force on the verge of taking things by storm. I would 100% watch a solo movie about Akira and her continued journey through this John Wick world.

You leave the theater definitely wanting more of that world. We already know that there are companion series in the works with The Continental and Ballerina, and this final chapter sets up those two nicely. The story not only continues to grow in respect to John and his path but also in building this world. It was experiencing Chapter 4 that I realized just how much this series is actually building on top of each other. Each film opens up more for the next to explore. Each cast pulls the curtain away a bit more as the action unfolds around them. You can’t talk about a John Wick film without mentioning Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick), both of who add opposite sides to the managerial coin. They are the glue that ties it all together, our protectors and our guides as we move along with the story. Reddick’s untimely death is heartbreaking, but he got a wonderful and deserving send-off, our dear Friend.

I began to look back at the other films and was blown away, again, by the intention of everything present, from the limited and purposeful dialogue of our hero to the spectacular action sequences. This is where I believe this film (these films) excel where others have failed, the focus on the story. It’s not just an action film for action's sake, there is a concrete story at the heart of the film, one that has stayed put find the original film. It’s hard to choose the best film in the series, but considering it all has led to this final chapter, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the best. I was blown away and I can’t wait to see it again.

Who knows, maybe I misread it all, I am just a fan girl after all. But, it doesn’t matter, because in the end I and fulfilled by story and action, and my respect for the stunt world continues to grow.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by Lionsgate