It’s fitting that the seemingly ageless Keanu Reeves should play John Wick. Like its leading man, the film feels unstuck in time; a forgotten ’80s classic that would have starred the likes of Stallone or Seagal were it released 30 years ago.

Leitch and Stahelski draw on their considerable experience as stunt performers (Stahelski was Reeves’ double for The Matrix) to deliver stunningly-choreographed shootouts.

Sure, you could summarise the plot in a single tweet, but there’s a surprising amount going on beneath the surface – this shady world of assassins extends far beyond the edges of the screen.

A perfectly assembled cast and confident direction turn this B-movie thriller into an instant classic. The fact that a sequel is already in development should come as no surprise. 

Rating: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Keanu Reeves, Alfie Allen, Michael Nyqvist, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo

DIRECTORS: David Leitch and Chad Stahelski

WRITER: Derek Kolstad

SYNOPSIS: Gangsters break into a man’s house, steal his car and kill his dog. Unfortunately for them, that man is legendary ex-hitman John Wick (Reeves), and now he wants revenge…