John Wick: Chapter 2 Movie Review: Keanu Reeves Returns As One-Man Murder Factory

Who do you send to kill the Bogeyman? Welcome back to the world of John Wick, an unstoppable (retired) assassin and one-man murder factory played by Keanu Reeves. The sequel to the 2014 unexpected hit gives us more of what made its predecessor a success: seamless action scenes, a darkly compelling mythos, and a “hero” more death machine than man. A beautifully choreographed escalation of its predecessor, “John Wick: Chapter 2” is a brutal, engrossing addition to director Chad Stahelski’s Wickiverse.

Keanu Reeves As The One-Man Murder Factory

“Murder factory” is not an exaggeration. The first “John Wick” saw our eponymous assassin taking out 77 people with brutal, stoic efficiency. “Chapter 2” smashes through this kill count with all the unapologetic aplomb of a wrecking ball. By the time the carnage is over, John has added another 128 people to the body count – 50% more than the first film.

Keanu’s John is mysterious, stoic, brutal and a scene-stealer, if only because he’s the only one left standing at the end of the more violent scenes. He’s an unstoppable force, dispatching rooms of generic henchmen with emotionless ease. But perhaps equally compelling as John’s talent for violence is the brief glimpses of conscience Keanu gives us. Don’t be mistaken: “John Wick” (both the movie and the man) is not one to dwell too long on questions of morality. Yet every so often, Keanu touches compellingly upon the man behind the murder machine.

‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Movie Review: More Of The Same

A reluctant hero. A revenge quest. A tantalizing criminal underworld. A stratospheric body count. Sounds like the formula to a generic action movie. But add in a compelling mythology, gorgeous cinematography, unapologetic carnage and some self-aware storytelling, and you get “John Wick: Chapter 2” – a gloriously choreographed ballet of gratuitous violence and a true feast for the senses.

The first movie saw John pulling himself out of retirement to avenge the death of his beloved puppy. This time around, the plot is a little more complicated. John is dragged back into the murder business when a former colleague Santino D’Antonio comes to collect on an old favor. Santino’s sister Gianna was chosen over him to take their family’s seat at the High Table, a global mob syndicate. This simply cannot do. Santino wants his sister dead. Who better to get the job done than the man you send to kill the Bogeyman?

What follows is a series of beautifully choreographed fight scenes that basically boil down to John Wick versus The World. The masterful teamwork of Stahelski and cinematographer Dan Laustsen ensure that this difficult momentum never wavers, transforming what could easily be overwrought video-game violence into a gorgeous (if still brutal) dance.

Another great thing about the “John Wick” franchise is that once John lets loose, there’s no stopping him. “Chapter 2” isn’t weighed down by moral complexities. Sure, it’s aware that it should be aware of moral consequences, but the storytelling never delves too deeply into how it weighs on John’s soul.

And this is a good thing. Stahelski’s “hero” is not meant to be relatable. He’s a force of nature, sweeping us along for the journey without weighing us down with unnecessary moralizing. John Wick’s is a world where human life is accepted as, at times, expendable. His is a world where the life of a dog is more important than the lives of a dozen humans. Where a man can gun down twenty without flinching at the implications.

Stahelski Expands The ‘John Wick’ Universe

“John Wick: Chapter 2” gives us a closer look at the Wickiverse without bombarding us with too much explanation. It trusts that we’ll figure it out along the way. While “Chapter 2” revisits the Hotel of Assassins, Stahelski adds new elements to the assassin culture, including some new characters like the Sommelier (played by Peter Serafinowicz) and the Bowery King (played by Laurence Fishburne, Keanu’s old mentor in the “Matrix” trilogy).

Some of “Chapter 2’s” most beautiful scenes pit John head-to-head against a new arsenal of foes. The mute-deaf assassin Ares (played by Ruby Rose) and Gianna’s bodyguard Cassian (played by Common) stand out among the goons. They provide true challenges for John, who we’re used to seeing bulldoze through goons without breaking a sweat.

A gorgeously constructed dive into assassin culture, “John Wick: Chapter 2” is a must-watch for die-hard fans of the first film or newcomers interested in a violent action flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Remember: the first film sent John on a revenge quest in the name of his dog. In terms of self-awareness of its own ridiculousness, the second film isn’t that far off. (Spoiler: Don’t worry, the dog is safe.)