John Wick: Chapter 2 review – a pulse-racing feast for the senses

by | 17 Feb 2017 | Film Reviews

‘The legendary hitman John Wick is forced out of retirement to fulfil a promise to a former associate.’

Directed again by Chad Stahelski, John Wick: Chapter 2 finds our reluctant but deadly hitman, played by Keanu Reeves, forced back into the criminal underworld he’s so desperately trying to leave behind. The first film was a tour de force with amazing practical stunt work and pulse racing action scenes that reminded us what a true action film is supposed to look like in its purest form.

This latest instalment, thankfully, is no different, and once again shows us what you can do with a crew who know what they’re doing and an actor committed to doing his own stunts. The story’s set moments just after the first film ended, where John quickly finds himself in front of an old associate to whom he owes a debt. Obligated to fulfil this promise, John soon finds himself in Rome and up against some of the most lethal assassins in the world who all want a piece of him.

‘It’s a similar plot to the previous film.’

John is once again pulled out of retirement and ends up pursuing one man with a multitude of assassins he’s going to have to kick, punch, stab and shoot his way through to get to. Stahelski also ups the stakes and carnage like most sequels do, but who cares when the set pieces are this well executed and presented.

Once again, Stahelski proves the perfect choice for this kind of film, having cut his teeth in the stuntman and second unit directing business for decades beforehand. It’s refreshing then to have a director who knows what he’s doing when it comes to making an old school action film with good old fashioned practical and in-camera stunt work, and CGI kept to the bare minimum.

‘He also finds the perfect pace that fits the overall tone of the film and helps in the storytelling.’

As soon as the film opens, we’re thrown into this high octane car chase, which then turns into an intense and visceral fist and gun fight, quickly setting up what to expect and reintroducing the character of John Wick to those who might have missed the first film. What happens next is a masterfully paced build up in suspense as we patiently wait for the bullets to start flying again.

It’s well executed, and Stahelski uses that time to introduce other characters, set up the plot, and build the tension. You can definitely tell he was inspired by the western genre just as much as Hong Kong movies, as there’s these great stand-offs and intense stares where characters are waiting for that perfect moment to draw their weapons; it’s something taken straight from those classic Spaghetti Westerns with Clint Eastwood’s man with no name, in which the character of John Wick is clearly an homage to.

‘Despite the familiar narrative structure.’

What Stahelski does do to keep John Wick: Chapter 2 fresh is expand the world he set up in the previous film. We now see more of this hidden underworld of secret criminal organisations and assassin societies. Witnessing how they operate with their own set of codes and rules. This world building is expertly done, and dry expositional dialogue is almost non-existent.

Instead, we are introduced to these shadowy organisations and their ways just through John Wick himself. His interactions with its other members, where we get a good feel of this universe organically without anyone having to blatantly spell it out for us. Allowing some mystery and intrigue to be maintained. What also helps is having the first half of the film set in Rome. Planting John Wick and the world of assassins amongst the ruins of this once great and ancient city adds a grand and almost mythological element to this hidden order of blood oaths, talisman coins and ancient societies. It all brings an extra layer to the story and a different aesthetic from the first film.

‘There’s a great supporting cast, in which they all help to bulk this world out.’

They each have an important part to play, mostly in playing up John Wick’s legendary status as this force of nature everyone in the criminal underworld is scared of. It’s a role tailor made for Reeves and this is ultimately his film through and through. Although it is good seeing him alongside Laurence Fishburne again, which we haven’t seen since The Matrix (1999). A man of few words, John Wick does most of his talking through his fists and precise marksmanship, in which Reeves convincingly portrays.

Even though he’s in his fifties now, it’s clear he put the work and training in, and runs around like a man in his prime. It’s because of his commitment that the film makers can show us everything with no need to hide stunt doubles or bad stunt work with shaky-cam or quick edits. It’s actually refreshing to be able to see the actor’s face most of the time, doing all of these incredible and well-choreographed fight scenes and shoot-outs. With smooth camera movements and longer takes we’re able to take all this action in in all of its glorious mayhem.

‘John Wick: Chapter 2 is a great film, and apart from the familiar structure from the first film, does everything a good action sequel should do.’

With great action set pieces that aren’t just bigger and louder but help propel the story. An excellent physical performance from Reeves, with a fascinating world being built before us, you’ll be begging for a Chapter 3 as soon as the credits roll.

Film Details

15 · 2h 2m · 2017.

Genre

Action · Crime · Drama · Thriller.

Cast

Claudia Gerini · Common · Ian McShane · Keanu Reeves · Lance Reddick · Laurence Fishburne · Ruby Rose.

Director

Chad Stahelski.

Writer

Derek Kolstad.

Based on the characters created by

Derek Kolstad.

Cinematography

Dan Laustsen.

Editing

Evan Schiff.

Music

Joel J. Richard · Tyler Bates.

Contains

gory images · language · strong violence · suicide scene.

David Axcell

Film Critic

David has quite a broad taste in film which includes big budget blockbusters and small indie films; including International and Arthouse cinema. As long as it’s good in that particular genre, he’ll watch anything.

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