The strength of John Wick: Chapter 2 is that we do get to open up that world and live in it even more throughout the film. The first film’s laser-like focus of a story about a man getting revenge for his dog and car was an asset, allowing the audience to just sit back and take-in the murderous artistry of this so-called “boogeyman”. Its liability was that we didn’t get to learn a whole lot about the sleek, members-only underground hitman’s club and its hotel, The Continental, as much as we would have liked. From the finest tailors of tactical evening wear, to the latest in party favors (weapons), along with the finest dining and luxury suites, no expense is spared. Globetrotting between New York and Rome, we get to experience all that this underworld society of contract killers has to offer. The tone, humor, pacing, and action are about what we saw in the first film, so those who loved John Wick, will certainly enjoy this sequel. In a lose-lose situation, what does John Wick have to lose?ĭerek Kolstad, who penned the first installment, is back writing John Wick: Chapter 2 which, along with returning director Chad Stahelski, gives this new story a strong sense of continuity with the first one. If he fulfills the terms and kills his intended target, Gianna D’Antonio (Claudia Gerini), Santino’s sister who sits upon the High Council (an inner circle of the worst baddies), then the entire High Council will be after him, which means certain death. Failure to comply, or fulfill the terms of the marker, equals death. Santino was the man who secured John’s withdraw from his killer lifestyle to be with his wife, but it of course came with a price, in the form of a blood marker that John is obligated to repay if it is ever called in. As soon as the concrete is poured, fate comes knocking on his door, quite literally, in the form of Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio). With his car back, his second dog at his side, and his ability to finally relax, John reburies the guns, gold coins, and other tools of the trade, ready to settle back into the life he has chosen, rather than the murderous one he left behind. As the adrenaline gets pumping, John Wick very rarely takes his foot off the accelerator. Picking up just a short time after where the first film left off, John is in hot pursuit of his stolen car, still being held by the brother of Viggo Tarasov, the mobster from the first film. The action is off with a bang, and this is just the warm-up for the audience’s sake. There is a significantly high amount of property damage and body count before the opening credits even roll, if that tells you anything about how this sequel is going to go. If he had only returned to the life of a killer in the first film to avenge his dead dog and stolen car before walking away again…this time he is definitely back. Keanu Reeves returns as ultra-efficient killer, John Wick, in the sequel John Wick: Chapter 2. For a review of the first John Wick film, click here.