John Wick: Chapter 4 Movie Review

Since 2014, the John Wick franchise has climbed to the top of the action genre with some of the best fight choreography and set pieces in modern filmmaking. Blending martial arts, gunplay and a sleek presentation, it quickly overtook many of its competitors. After nine years in the game, the mainline story comes to a close with John Wick: Chapter 4. Like all the films before it, this is one thrill ride that never lets up.

After barely surviving his fall from the last movie, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) rebuilds his strength and sets out to take on the high table. With Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) at his side, our protagonist aims to finally clear the bounty on his head and restore his place in the world of assassins. John is hunted by new enemies and former colleagues, including Mr Nobody (Shamier Anderson) and Caine (Donnie Yen). The story is split between the action you’ve come to expect and interactions between the characters. The narrative comes full circle, bringing us back to John’s personal life and offering a more reflective tone. The theme of consequence is a regular presence, weighing heavily on John and Winston in particular; two abrupt deaths in the opening set up the high stakes and this creates an effective springboard for the action. I was very satisfied with how the film ended as well with a fitting climax that wraps up several character arcs.

At some points, John Wick 2 and 3 sacrificed development in favour of driving momentum, but Chapter 4 finds time for slower, more thoughtful moments. John’s human side comes out when he interacts with his friends and Keanu sells these scenes just as well as the action. The main characters all have motivations that clash together, triggering several changes in allegiance. Donnie Yen and Shamier Anderson are both great additions to the cast with their unique fighting styles put on full display. The leads are contrasted well by Bill Skarsgård who creates a seriously arrogant persona for the Marquis Vincent de Gramont, a powerful member of the high table. Clancy Brown’s brief yet memorable turn as the Harbinger adds an extra dimension to their scenes. Simple yet strong dialogue breaks up the intensity and as the film enters the final act, John Wick 4 offers a surprising amount of poignancy. Smaller-scale performances from Hiroyuki Sanada and Rina Sawayama also make an impact in their respective scenes.

John Wick’s place as an apex assassin has always offered up excellent battles; the fourth chapter is no different. In plain talk, we have three extended, well-defined action scenes; the first in Japan, the second in Germany and the climax in France. All are expertly choreographed and inventive, playing out like a greatest hits compilation for the franchise. My personal favourite was the large-scale club sequence which pits John against the German mastermind Killa (Scott Adkins). The fantastic lighting, booming soundtrack and painful combat all come together flawlessly. This level of quality never waivers; the use of warm orange lighting for Winston represents his connection with John, the sound design is rugged and crunchy and the camerawork is extremely precise, especially during an overhead sequence where John blasts his way through an apartment block. The techno soundtrack is back in full force with a mixture of new tracks Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard alongside nods to previous films.

At a time when so many franchises don’t know when or how to conclude, John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers a rousing and satisfying final flourish. The action talent is every bit as skilled as previous entries, but the film takes the time to slow down and deliver some straightforward and effective character work. Any fan of the genre will be thoroughly impressed by the hitman’s latest outing.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)