John Wick: Chapter 4

What’s it about?

John Wick: Chapter 4 is a neo-noir action thriller about a former assassin who wants to take down his ex-employers, the High Table. Given unlimited resources by the High Table, the Marquis uses John Wick’s friends and allies against him.

The facts

• Directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick: Chapters 1–3)
• Starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen and Bill Skarsgård
• Runtime: 2 hours 49 minutes
• The fourth instalment in the John Wick franchise

Why did it get this rating?

Bloody violence

Most of the film consists of lengthy, highly choreographed, over-the-top fight scenes. The style of the violence is a combination of martial arts combat and gun violence, known as ‘gun-fu’.

Weapons include axes, swords, knives, cars, motorcycles and a variety of guns. Bullets cause clouds of blood mist on impact and blood splatter. Injury detail is hidden by lighting and clothing.

There is a dog who attacks on command, targeting groins and tearing at limbs. While there is no injury detail, the attacks have impact.

Cruelty

A man is stabbed through his hand and made to remove the knife by severing the tendons between his fingers rather than taking the knife straight out.

There are a couple of scenes where a dog is hit during combat.

Offensive language

There is occasional offensive language, including the words “motherf****r”, “f*ck” and “sh*t”.

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?