John Wick 4 (2023) Review

Title: John Wick 4
Year: 2023
Director: Chad Stahelski
Country: US
Language: English

I have not seen the first three installments of the John Wick Franchise, but I had become well aware of its reputation for reinvigorating the action genre with eye popping "did you just see that?" violence. Keanu Reeves has become an action star, one that has more similarities to Buster Keaton than traditional action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was quite excited to see this film in theatres. 

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.

Perhaps to the surprise of nobody, the script is razor-thin as the plot only serves to get us to the next action sequence. These sequences are amazing, Coordinated by Chad Stanhelski, the fight choreography comes off as a series of sleek and smooth performances that leave audiences in awe. He manages to suspend our disbelief; even when Reeves survives falling several stories out of a window onto a van.

The camera shots are incredible and inventive, allowing us to be fully immersed in the chaos of each set piece. The editing is refined; much restraint is shown when cutting between shots. Two many "action" movies nowadays feel the need to cut every second whereas John Wick's crew know how to really sell the brutal violence. 

John Wick 4 is the best pure "action" movie I have seen in many years. It's a brainless style-over-substance flick for sure, but it delivers on its promise of showing audiences great visually appealing fights. I enjoyed the picture's obvious references to The Warriors (1978) as well.