John Wick: Chapter 2

Director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad reteam with star Keanu Reeves for John Wick: Chapter 2, a surprisingly necessary sequel to their left-field 2014 action success. It picks up right where the first film ended, with the legendarily prolific hitman Wick mowing down the final few sleazy gangsters who are holding on to his car. Wick proceeds to wield his precious automobile like a samurai sword, single-mindedly chopping through henchmen until he reaches the boss level, at which point he backs off in exchange for a life of peace. After that kill-crazy bender, Wick buries his old life in the basement, but immediately an old contact comes carrying a marker, forcing Wick back into ultraviolence. While John Wick leaned heavily on the theme of grief, with Wick’s corpse-strewn revenge mission serving as cathartic therapy, the sequel focuses more on addiction—whether by blackmail or bloodlust, Wick just can’t quit. D.B.