Movie Review: 'John Wick 4' is So Cool

John Wick Chapter 4 (2023)

Directed by Chad Stahelski

Written by Shay Hatten, Michael Finch

Starring Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Donnie Yen, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgard

Release Date March 24th, 2023

Published March 24th, 2023

John Wick Chapter 4 wastes no time in getting our favorite killing machine into action. After a brief introduction to where John's been hiding since we last saw him, action shifts to the Middle East where John Wick (Keanu Reeves), in full black suit in the desert, is killing people while riding on horseback. The scene is key first for getting John Wick into action mode and for giving him a key piece of information. As John executes a nameless baddie, he's informed that the only peace he shall ever have will come in death. This sets up the plot of the movie: Will John Wick live or die?

The plot is driven by John Wick's continuing desire to be allowed to live a normal life. He just wants a dog and a house and a muscle car for a quiet retirement. Unfortunately, the many, many people John Wick has killed since he took vengeance over the murder of his beloved dog, means that John may never stop being pursued by killers eager to grab a 20 plus million dollar bounty on his head. That bounty comes courtesy of a mysterious cabal known collectively as 'The Table.' You can assume that the table is much like the one in Godfather 2 where the heads of families sit and carve up portions of the world.

Thus, John Wick's task, though seemingly impossible, is to kill his way through the table. Thankfully, his efforts thus far have led the leaders of the group to consolidate power inside one man, The Marquis (Bill Skarsgard). Kill the Marquis and John Wick will earn his freedom from the table. Naturally, this task is more complex than simply killing one man. Standing in John Wick's way is an old friend, a man chosen by The Marquis as his proxy in any direct combat with John Wick. That man is Caine, the blind master, played by Donnie Yen. John Wick and Caine have been friends for years but with the life of Caine's daughter hanging in the balance, the blind master has no compunction about killing his longtime friend.

I love the lore of John Wick. I love how the universe maintains a very specific and yet uncomplicated logic. In this universe, there are suits that are made of Kevlar, these suits have an almost magical quality. They make the wearer impervious to most weapon attacks. Getting thrown off a roof, shot, or tossed down some stairs are things that can slow someone down in this universe. But, if you are wearing a Kevlar suit, you are protected from serious impacts, meaning bones won't break, and bullets may collect on the surface but not penetrate. A sword or a knife may still be an issue.

The piles upon piles of bodies that John Wick has left in his wake? Don't worry about it, there is lore in place for that. 2014's John Wick established an entire economy built around the removal and destruction of dead bodies. There is a whole underground economy in the world of killers that can meet just about any need. The Continental Hotel, for example, is a refuge that killers can take, a place where violence is not allowed, killing on the grounds of the hotel is prohibited and the price to pay if you break the rules is death.

These little details ease the pedantic mind and leave only the most cool elements of John Wick in place for us to enjoy. And the cool factor in John Wick 4 is incredibly high. Donnie Yen, specifically, is so cool. Yen's blind master, Caine, is a tribute to a lengthy history of martial arts movies but, beyond that, he's simply a badass. Yen moves with such fluidity, he oozes confidence and control. He's most terrifying when he's completely relaxed, as if he already knows that the people he's about to kill are already dead. He's as deadly as John Wick and yet, he has complete respect for just how deadly John Wick is. Yen's performance is completely awesome.

Of course, the reason to see John Wick 4 is the violence, the spectacular display of balletic gun-fu, and several variations on the martial arts. Say what you will about Keanu Reeves as a dramatic actor, he has a physical charisma that is as magnetic as the best dramatic actors in the business. Reeves is graceful and lithe and the production design, sound design, and camerawork work in kinetic unison to give all of his movements an impact beyond what you think a man of Keanu's stature is capable of. As filmed, you will believe quite easily that John Wick has unlocked a key to human anatomy, one that shows him where exactly to strike a blow for maximum impact. You can't help but believe he can destroy much larger or faster men simply because of his expertise in killing blows.

The John Wick series as a whole is a masterwork of violence on screen. It's an incredibly compelling story, it's filled to the brim with fun and detailed lore, and it proceeds at a breakneck pace that feels perfectly attuned to the story being told. Even at over two and a half hours, John Wick Chapter 4 for never lags, never overstays its welcome, and never comes off as labored. It's quite a trick and it demonstrates the incredible skill of director Chad Stahelski, a director who is both a student of legendary martial arts movies and a master of the American style action movies. In John Wick Chapter 4, he's married these interests in the best way to bring his four film story to a close.

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