John Wick: Chapter 4 Review – Impeccable!

Starring Keanu Reeves in the titular role, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the final installment in the acclaimed action franchise and features recurring roles by Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane. Also, the movie introduces new characters played by Shamier Anderson, Donnie Yen, and Bill Skarsgård. The storyline commences when Wick finds himself evading capture while the bounty on his head escalates by the hour. Determined to seek retribution, he sets out to take down all the members of the High Table.

Let’s start with the positives: as anticipated from a John Wick movie, the action is stellar from the beginning to the end. While Parabellum had a bit too much for my taste, in Chapter 4, Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, the screenwriters, struck a perfect balance. It’s challenging to preserve the consistency and surprise in action choreography for the fourth film in a franchise, but Chad Stahelski never fails to deliver by infusing creative tension throughout the movie. The climax showdown was exceptionally noteworthy, as it was different, simple, and reminiscent of Western films from before the 1990s.

However, for me, the standout feature of Chapter 4 is Dan Laustsen’s exquisite cinematography. His clean wide-angle shots, accompanied by Kevin Kavanaugh’s breathtaking production design, the lighting, the neo-noir style, and the background score featuring electronic, piano, and jazz music, make for an immersive experience that personally appeals to my taste, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In addition, the film is truly remarkable when viewed in a theater on the big screen.

Regardless, on a slightly negative note, the storyline of Chapter 4 is quite similar to Parabellum. The premise centers around Wick closing in on his target while facing bigger threats, and every step he takes results in a trail of destruction. In my opinion, at least to streamline the story, they could have combined both films into one and still conveyed the same narrative. Nevertheless, I appreciated the more relaxed and happy ending to this film.

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The performances were decent, and the addition of new characters, particularly Caine, played by Donnie Yen, was a welcome one. John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers a satisfying conclusion to an outstanding action franchise that never fails to impress with its stylish action sequences and portrayal of an intriguing world of assassins and codes of conduct. While the 169-minute runtime may feel a bit long, and the story could have been more compelling, the drama, camera work, and Keanu Reeves’ portrayal of Wick make this movie a spectacular watch on the big screen. It’s undoubtedly one of the most fun, well-choreographed, and impeccably executed action films you’ll ever see.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Rating – 3.75/5