John Wick Chapter 4

Let me start this review by symbolically pouring some out for the late Lance Reddick a.k.a. Charon of the John Wick franchise to name a few.  His untimely death was a shock to the system and definitely made his role/character arc in this fourth film of the franchise poignant.  Reddick will be missed.  

As for the film itself, John Wick Chapter 4 to put it succinctly is everything you can want in a John Wick film and more.  I loved the original John Wick and each proceeding film has equaled or surpassed it in my opinion.  Yes, even with she who shall not be named showing up in John Wick Chapter 3 - Parabellum.  

Chapter 4 takes all the things we love about the previous films, the characters, action, gallows humor, violence/high body count, and kicks it up another couple of levels in this 2-hour 49-minute adrenaline pumping, non-stop epic thrill ride.  Stuntman turned writer/director Chad Stahelski once again strikes gold.   John Wick Chapter 4 picks up where Parabellum leaves off, grabs you by the throat and much like Wick himself, never let's go as John takes on the world and the High Table.

Joining Keanu Reeves in reprising their respective characters are Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and of course the late Lance Reddick.  Adding to the fun, mayhem, and carnage are Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson, and Clancy Brown to name a few. All give stellar performances and are very welcome additions to the franchise. A special shout out to Donnie Yen for yet again embodying a cool, humorous, sympathetic, blind ass kicking martial artist (Rogue One).  He kills in this part, pun both intended and not.

Chapter 4's action/fight sequences are unbelievable sights to behold.  Intense, thrilling, brutal, exhaustive, over-the-top and totally satisfying.  The direction keeps you in the thick of things and leaves you grunting, oomph-ing, and damn-ing throughout.  You will be left breathless time and again just watching. Everything that’s come before that had you reeling is upgraded to boss fight plus levels.  A small word of caution, there is one sequence nearing the end that had me dizzy and thinking I may vomit with the overhead action. I wasn’t alone on this point, so it wasn’t just my system being weird.  Think Sandra Bullock in Gravity. You've been warned. 

Well written, great dialogue, stunning locations and set pieces, stirring soundtrack, world building at its best. John Wick Chapter 4 is a masterpiece that delivers all the thrills and all the feels.  Kudos to all involved.  

If you’re a John Wick fan, do yourself a favor and see this one on the big screen.  And when you do, make sure you stay through ALL the credits, there’s a final scene that at least half the packed audience I saw the film with missed.  It’s well worth crossing your legs a little longer.  

 John Wick Chapter 4 is a solid 10. 

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