John Wick: Chapter 4 | SXSW 2023 Film Review

John Wick came out of absolutely nowhere when it debuted in 2014. Star Keanu Reeves had been on that celebrity roller-coaster for a few years, and little did even he probably expect that he would be headed towards the best work of his career (sorry, Matrix). Now we have arrived at John Wick: Chapter 4, where our tortured “hero” – who has successfully murdered hundreds after the unceremonious dispatching of his beloved puppy – is now on a quest to get off of the High Table’s hit-list. Is such a thing even possible when you have essentially assassinated half of the working force? Time will tell.

Chapter 4 wastes no time and immediately introduces the major villain of this story in the Marquis (a fabulously cast Bill Skarsgård). He carries with him the full weight of the High Table, that clandestine organization to whom John Wick has slighted in the bloodiest of ways and now appears to be represented by Clancy Brown. Marquis’ mission is to extinguish not only John Wick himself, but the very idea of the Baba Yaga. To do so, John is forced to cross paths with Killa (a remarkably unrecognizable Scott Adkins), countless assassins, as well as Wick’s friend and former associate, Caine (Donnie Yen).

Along the way, Wick gets a bit of return help or interference from Winston (Ian McShane), Charon (Lance Reddick), King (Laurence Fishburne), and a few new/old friends, most notably the manager of the Osaka hotel, Shimazu (the legendary Hiroyuki Sanada) and his daughter, Akira (pop star Rina Sawayama, who has a promising future in film).

First up, let’s discuss the length. John Wick 4 is almost 3 hours. You read that right, 3 freaking hours! The best part is, you never feel the length. This film glides at a blisteringly brutal pace, complimenting each set-piece with character growth and depth. Director Chad Stahelski has already mastered the art of stunt work, shown here with action scenes of precision and perfection, but now he has mastered the art of audience patience. Where all of the previous John Wick films have had a few lulls here and there, Chapter 4 suffers no such fate. From start to finish, this movie flies.

Let’s be clear: If you’ve come this far in the John Wick universe, you already know exactly what to expect in the fourth film of this storied franchise. Mysterious characters, an enlarged mythology, Keanu Reeves doing more with “Yeah” than some actors do with an entire monologue, and exhaustingly visceral action scenes which pushes the boundaries of what is possible in film. You get all of this, and so much more of it. The entire production is an onslaught of the best this series has to offer. Stunning work.

The performances are excellent across the board, with Bill Skarsgård’s weaslley Marquis and Donnie Yen’s blind Daredevil-wannabe Caine as the easy standouts. Yen in particular makes a fabulous case for his own spin-off should the ability arise. Everyone else handles their own as we spiral towards John Wick’s goal of freedom. Whatever that might actually look like for him.

The most important performance, though, is Keanu Reeves. I have said this for years, and it’s undeniable in my eyes, that Keanu Reeves is one of the most impressive physical performers to grace the screen in film history. I place him up there with Chaplin and Jackie Chan, personally. Fight choreography is impressive from every performer here, yes. But what’s more impressive is Reeves’ ability to inject personality into his fighting style. To give it character, humor, and panache. Though Reeves might have a seemingly laid-back speaking preference, his physical performance is never less than invigoratingly stellar. Reeves has been a blessing to action cinema in these films, and we as his audience need to acknowledge how outstanding he is at delivering the goods.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is more than another sequel in an endless churning of product. This is a fantastic action film, the likes of which we may never see again in our lifetime. It is epic, fast-paced, glorious in its debauchery, and most of all: it kicks, beats, shoots, and slices ASS! In fact, to put it all in perspective, from here on out this opus to action film lovers, this love letter to stunt people everywhere, this franchise that consistently believed in the physical abilities of its cast and especially its most excellent lead actor, shall now and forever be known as “The Gunfather”. This film is an offer you cannot refuse.

Listen to our full review on our SXSW 2023 episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: