John Wick Chapter 4 Review: The Unstoppable Baba Yaga Is Back For Carnage With Gritty Action

In 'John Wick: Chapter 4', the most recent entry in the franchise, suave men donning suits from the underworld battle it out for what's at stake.

New Delhi: Keanu Reeves is back at it with his killer moves (and killer looks), dodging every bullet that bears his name. Fans waited to see the return of ‘Baba Yaga’, who had been gone for four years, in full throttle, as proven by the thunderous hooting and hollering that broke out inside the theatre when the actor's face was unveiled.

In 'John Wick: Chapter 4', the latest instalment in the neo-noir action thriller franchise, suave men donning suits from the underworld battle it out for what's at stake. The 'excommunicado' is bound to offer everything this time since the stakes are high and personal. Excommunicado is a state of a former Continental member after their privileges have been revoked due to a severe infringement of the rules.

Based on characters created by Derek Kolstaad and directed by Chad Stahelski, the realities of this realm, where men engage in crime but would put their lives on the line for their word, are beyond our logical grasp. 

As long as it fits the rules laid down by the High Table, all is fair in the dark underbelly of the mafia world. And it takes only a man with great bravado and brains to trick his way out of the labyrinth of perils posed at every turn, and anyone who is a fan of John Wick can vouch for his brilliance in doing so. Yet again, we see the grief-stricken ex-hitman fending off strikes, ducking gunshots, and serving only good looks while being at it.

The newest and longest chapter picks up where 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' left off. Wick, who is still underground, is getting set for payback on the High Table with all his fury. The former hitman suits up to begin his business, and in a scene that would make a John Wick fan sob (yes, we are a little dramatic), he shoots the Elder – the only person above the High Table – straight in the head. Meanwhile, Winston, who backed Wick, loses his ‘Manager’ title and witnesses Marquis Vincent de Gramont, a member of the High Table, kill his concierge Charon. Wick, who was earlier on the run, is now rowing against the stream in a bid to one day regain freedom but it has consequences.

Wick, who hardly has anyone left to trust, turns to Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada), the head of the Osaka Continental, for protection. Shimazu vows to help Wick even if it means sacrificing himself. On the other hand, another friend has been paid to kill him in the meantime for the sake of his family. The High Table's Marquis (Bill Skarsgard) hires the sightless Caine to get rid of Wick. As the sightless reaper who is nearly as ruthless as Wick, martial arts champion Donnie Yen is a treat to watch. When your foe is a deadpan hitman, it helps that Yen gives comedic relief with the intense action. Simultaneously, Wick is being hounded by Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), a bounty hunter, and his dog. A fresh face and the narrative's much-needed driving force is the filthy-rich antagonist (Bill Skarsgard), a supervillain with tailored shimmery suits.

Even though, for a cinephile, yawning during a film is a sin, we are not to blame. There are a few overly drawn-out confrontations in the two-hour-and-fifty-minute film, which is mostly laden with picture-perfect cinematography and a charming protagonist. The prolonged chat between Wick and Killa (Scott Adkins), the head of the German branch of the High Table, in a Berlin nightclub could have been cut short. And isn't it a touch overdone, even for fiction, to have a bunch of dancers swaying to a techno beat all without blinking at the gunshots? Who are we to question, though? It is Reeves' world and we are just living in it.

However, the kill-or-to-be-killed approach prevails, and the masterfully choreographed scenes put you on the edge of your seats. In keeping with its true essence, the film series continues to rely on hand-to-hand combat, bows and arrows, and the prowess of skillful assassins for its action sequences. Although action movies typically have VFX and green screens, the Reeves-led film continues to strive to portray action as realistically as possible on the reel. There is some stunning fighting choreography, shot to look aesthetically striking. The combat between Wick and his predators in the traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe has to be one of the coolest.

While Reeves has fewer lines in this film compared to any other in the saga up to this point, he perfectly delivers Wick’s conviction while also lending the character an emotional touch that gives this chapter more complexity. Like its main protagonist, the action franchise that has been hailed as a rare breed has aged like fine wine, and Chapter 4 stands to be the finest of them all. With the artfully shot combat scenes to the seamless character arc of Wick, the film, which has a tight screenplay and eye-catching aesthetics, has grown into becoming a benchmark for its franchise and others of the same genre.