You would think that by John Wick 4 the franchise would be tired and out of tricks—and you would be dead wrong. Directed by Chad Stahelski, this is the best installment in the series, delivering outstanding fight choreography showing every punch, slice, and shot; heart-pounding action in Osaka, New York, and Paris; and outrageous characters, infusing the film with just enough humor to make it riotously fun.
Keanu Reeves is back as man-of-few-words John Wick, fighting to clear his name. Donnie Yen has a substantial role as Caine, an old friend of John’s hired to kill him—possibly the best blind ninja assassin since Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury (1989). This is a fantastic role for Yen, allowing him to show off his humor and audacious martial arts. Winston (Ian McShane), the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), and Charon (Lance Reddick) all return to support John’s mission, which as usual involves killing countless people in increasingly audacious ways.
The film introduces fan favorites like the always intense Clancy Brown as Harbinger, a representative of the Table, the shadow organization overseeing this world of assassins; screen legend Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, who runs the Continental Hotel in Okinawa; Rina Sawayama as his daughter Akira (equally badass); Shamier Anderson as Tracker, a freelance assassin who travels with his dog (because you need a dog); and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis, the requisite baddie. If you’re a John Wick fan, you’re already going to see this, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. R, 169 min.
