Big Wick energy.

For something that initially seemed destined for the straight-to-DVD bargain bin, it really is quite remarkable that the John Wick franchise is where it is.

Beautifully mirroring its leading man, the John Wick series has found itself continually battling against the odds for success. A faded action star at the helm, an incredibly simple plot, some seriously ripe dialogue, and a kill count that would make Commando blush – John Wick wasn’t supposed to be a hit, let alone enough of one to spawn several sequels.

Yet, here we are, staring down the barrel of a fourth chapter in the book of Wick, and while the franchise, like it’s hero, has taken a serious pummelling over the years, it’s now looking as healthy as it’s ever been.

Still very much excommunicado, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) remains on the run, but with time and luck running out, he discovers a way to take down The High Table once and for all. However, before he can truly earn his freedom, Wick must face off against the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) – a new, fearsome enemy with powerful alliances across the globe – and nefarious forces that will turn old friends into foes.

As with many successful film franchises, the key to John Wick’s durability is its simplicity. Refusing to buy into its own hype, the series has remained steadfast in its determination to play to its strengths, and with things now closer to the end than they are to the beginning, the franchise is going out all guns blazing.

With its ambitions still relatively simple but its scope as big as it’s ever been, John Wick: Chapter 4 doesn’t concern itself with reinventing the wheel, instead opting to give us precisely what we want, but dialled up to eleven. I mean, when a John Wick film hits you with a Lawrence of Arabia reference in the first five minutes, you just know things are going to go hard.

And hard is precisely where Chapter 4 goes. With Keanu Reeves as battered and bruised as he’s ever been, the film continues in the franchise’s tradition of taking untold joy in putting its star through the wringer, however, everyone comes out the other end all the better for it.

Since its inception, this series has just clicked with Keanu in a manner that you so rarely see with any action franchise. It’s a bond between actor and film that hasn’t diminished one bit through the years, and even as Chapter 4’s scale has increased considerably from where it first began, you can just see how personal it remains to its star.

The John Wick series has always been at its best when pushing its star to the limit, and you suspect Keanu too ups his game significantly when he’s being pushed as far as he can physically go. Taking its lead from its predecessors and running with it, Chapter 4 makes sure to put Keanu through the grinder, and while there are certainly moments where this physical torment brings with it genuine concern for the actor’s wellbeing, it makes for one hell of a ride.

Like Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible films, it’s genuinely hard to see how the John Wick franchise could work if its star wasn’t so full-blooded in his commitment to it. As Keanu flips, kicks, shoots, and bumps his way around the screen, it’s hard not to feel anything but admiration for him as he puts his body on the line repeatedly for our entertainment.

And what entertainment it is. Upping the ante to ridiculous heights, Chapter 4 is as enormous and as grandiose as any John Wick film has ever been. With Keanu simultaneously looking like he’s having a blast and at death’s door throughout, the enthusiasm shown and the desire to throw everything he’s got at it is positively infectious.

It probably goes without saying at this point but the action on display in this fourth John Wick instalment is thoroughly on-point. Even by this franchise’s sky-high standards, Chapter 4’s fight choreography and brutal attention to detail is positively off the charts, with fight sequence after fight sequence that will genuinely leave your jaw on the floor.

Inventive, balletic, and frequently bone-crunching, Chapter 4 leaves nothing on the table, offering everything you could possibly want from a John Wick entry – and then some. As an ever present in the series, huge props must once again go to director Chad Stahelski, whose intimate knowledge of stunt choreography and keen eye for slick fight visuals shine through in every scene.

While the constant barrage of bullets and gun-fu may get a little draining over its bloated 169-minute run time, the constant invention, innovation, and evolution in weaponry and fight styles means there’s always plenty of variety to keep things spicy. Whether guns, knives, nunchucks, bow and arrows, cars, or dogs, Chapter 4 has the arsenal and knows precisely what to do with it.

Continually escalating and consistently beautiful, cinematography and choreography work in perfect harmony as a cacophony of carnage, chaos, and bloodshed ensure Chapter 4 is the most viscerally and visually satisfying franchise entry to date. It really is quite the kick, and while the writing and dialogue is as hammy, silly, and OTT as it’s ever been, it doesn’t matter a whole lot when the action speaks volumes.

In a clear attempt to avoid Keanu tripping himself up, very little of the film’s dialogue is spared on the star, as his impeccable, boundless, and bruising application to Chapter 4’s action - at the ripe old age of 58 no less - says more than enough on its own. As ever with any John Wick outing, however, there’s just as much fun to be found with Chapter 4’s ensemble than with its star.

While the appearance of franchise stalwarts like Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and the dearly departed Lance Reddick are always a welcome sight, it’s the new faces that really steal the show. With Bill Skarsgård chewing every inch of scenery and the likes of Scott Adkins, Shamier Anderson (plus dog), and Hiroyuki Sanada putting in memorable performances, the cast around Keanu feel like they’re having the best possible time, however it’s Donnie Yen who is Chapter 4’s true MVP.

With complete control of his craft, Donnie Yen once again shows what a magnetic screen presence he is. Those familiar with Yen’s work will know precisely what to expect here and he very much delivers, balancing his superlative martial arts abilities with impeccable presence, grace, and humour for one of the finest performances of his illustrious career.

Quite frankly, he looks the part. There’s just something about Yen’s aura and aesthetic that fits Chapter 4 like a glove, making you genuinely wonder how it’s taken this long to get the man involved in the John Wick franchise.

Like Yen’s Caine in full flow, Chapter 4 is nothing short of stunning and a true feast for the eyes that, while clearly wielding a budget infinitely larger than any of its predecessors, makes every penny count, treating us to an incredible selection of dazzling locations and setups for the action to unfurl in.

As we punch, kick, shoot, and stumble our way across the world, the action offers more personality and visual flair than many CGI-bloated blockbusters can dream of. From a neon and cherry blossom-drenched Osaka to the cobblestone class of Paris, each location has a distinct identity that weaves itself into the action in intricate and thoroughly satisfying ways.

With Wick further broadening his horizons beyond New York, so too does the franchise’s lore. With elements like The Continental and The High Table, the mythos behind John Wick has been a key component to the success of the entire series and Chapter 4 expands on it all wonderfully.

There has always been a great balance struck between brutal realism and high fantasy throughout the John Wick franchise, but it reaches new heights with Chapter 4. The fascinating mythology, eye-catching visuals, and bone-breaking action have all played their part in the franchise managing to carve out a real name for itself amidst a sea of action mediocrity that has frequently tried (and often failed) to cash in on its surprise success.

And just when you think the series would finally buckle under the pressure of its own hype, here we are four instalments in and its well and truly on top of its game. Despite a wholly unnecessary running time, Chapter 4 is a stunning, surprisingly affecting success that continues to show us just what can be done if the commitment, passion, and unwavering belief in your product are there.

Even judged by the franchise’s own high standards, John Wick: Chapter 4 is a brutal triumph. Style and substance combine for another helping of ultra-violence that doesn’t so much reinvent the wheel, but rather kicks the shit out of it. Despite its bum-numbing running time, Chapter 4 is a ridiculous, beautiful, balletic, and bulldozing success that marks the perfect end to what’s been a bulletproof franchise. If indeed it is the end.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is in cinemas now.