John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the story of the eponymous master assassin (Keanu Reeves) who suddenly finds himself on the run from his own guild after his transgressions in Chapter 2. Wick has a one-hour head start until he becomes the most wanted man on the planet, and he uses his time wisely by crafting a plan to stay alive through calling in every favor he has across the globe and mercilessly dispatching anyone foolish enough to stand in his way.
What works in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the incredible choreographed action and the continual universe expansion. To paraphrase director Chad Stahelski, Chapter 3 is not as “big” as 2, but it is more intense. Parabellum’s sequences are so ingenious, meticulous, and masterful, it makes the case as to why the Academy Awards needs to recognize Outstanding Achievement in Choreography. The engagements are fluid and fast, but choreographer Dan Lausten frames his shots perfectly, never crowding the talent (despite them often being in crowded spaces). This allows the audience to see every movement of the violent dance on display.
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The first John Wick movie was a fairly straightforward assassin shoot-em-up film with a few hints at a greater mythos. Chapter 2 expanded upon these ideas in marvelous world-building ways, and Parabellum uses its narrative to play within the walls they’ve constructed, and even attempting to break a few of them down. The production team is clearly playing the long-game by letting Stahelski not push forward too quickly with exposition. In that regard, Parabellum is surprisingly more intimate and makes the designation of “Chapter” rather fitting as we follow Wick on a particular arc. Time-wise, it’s not very lengthy, but the path and choices of the character during these moments are incredibly engaging and keep the mythology fresh.
While John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum builds off its already acclaimed predecessors in unique ways, giving fans what they crave from this franchise, this third entry won’t convert any detractors. The gruesomeness factor is only amplified with a near-comedic disregard for human life. There are large swaths of people who will find Wick’s non-stop murder disgusting and gratuitous, and it is a fair point—this genre (like any other) is not for everyone. The pacing might also feel a little inconsistent to some, as it is a very clearly telegraphed rollercoaster of incredibly quiet moments followed by periods of extreme intensity and this pattern predictably repeats.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is in a very specific class of its own, and after three films is making an argument to be considered one of the greatest action franchises ever. It has a style and execution all of its own, and this delivers on exactly what the series has promised to its fans, perhaps even improving upon its own unique formula.
Recommended if you enjoyed: The John Wick Series, Equilibrium, The Kill Bill Series
FINAL GRADE: A
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