Movie Review - John Wick: Chapter 4

Director: Chad Stahelski
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 169 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Clancy Brown, Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, Hiroyuki Sanada
 
Description: John Wick (Keanu Reeves) 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.

Review: After his fall from the Continental Hotel in New York, it is assumed that John Wick is dead. Unfortunately, for a whole slew of individuals, that assumption turns out incorrect. Especially for The high Table. John Wick is out for revenge to earn back his freedom once and for all, but that battle proves no easy one. As the price on his head seems to rise by the minute, he travels the world in search of his enemies and former friends he can still trust.

It is quite noteworthy that an action film like “John Wick”, made for “only” $ 20 million in 2014, is now on its third sequel and we all still enjoy it. A concept that turned into a very stylish action film franchise. But what is especially noteworthy is the fact that not one of the sequels manages to lose momentum.

The fact that this fourth chapter has been given a runtime of no less than 169 minutes is proof that there is plenty of room in the universe surrounding Keanu Reeves’ John Wick. Less than three hours of stylish violence in a world full of assassins. And this film is all gas, no breaks. Director Chad Stahelski uses mainly actions scenes to stretch that, instead of dialogue. And that way, you hardly feel the almost three hour runtime.

On the quality of the scenes there is little to nothing to complain about. The payoffs are creative and spectacular and a joy to watch. During the Arc de Triomphe scene you’re constantly wondering how they did it. And the one scene in the building, where most of it is shot from the top, is the most amazing scene of the entire film, from a cinematographic point-of-view. However, some viewers might find these actions sequences too long and they go a bit too far at times. To thinking that John Wick is some kind of “über-mensch”, where he survives yet another high fall, kick or blunt to the head.   

This fourth installment again introduces a new character high up on the assassin ladder in the form of Bill Skarsgård (known best for his role as Pennywise in “It”), but it still remains extremely vague exactly how the High Table works and who is at the top of the pyramid. The main villain was kind of a let-down, I didn’t find him very threatening.  

Other cool characters were introduced though. Donnie Yen as the blind assassin Caine, even with it being a little implausible at times for him to fight the way he does, was a welcome character. And the so-called Mr. Nobody and his dog were amazing and in the movie for just the right amount.

“John Wick: Chapter 4” shows that there is still more than enough in store when it comes to John Wick and his battle with the High table. The film has a hefty running time, but I didn’t really feel that because it’s almost non-stop stylish action. The John Wick-series is a very good and solid franchise, because all the movies in it are so good. 

Rating: 4/ 5