From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is quite the mouth full, the title alone gives horrifying flashbacks to Spiral: From the Book of Saw - another spinoff of an iconic franchise looking to redirect to a new destination. Luckily, the title is the only comparison that can be found with that disappointing film as Ballerina stirs up the pot and allows fans of the Wick universe another chance to experience the carnage within. 

 

Ana de Armas perfectly encapsulated a lost soul within this world, seen dealing similar one-on-one combat in her unofficial Ballerina audition in the final Daniel Craig 007, No Time to Die. De Armas has established herself as an actress of all types going from supporting roles in War Dogs or Knock Knock, to a breakout lead role in the whodunnit Knives Out to then dramatic actor in Blonde to now becoming action star in a Wick spinoff. She has range and she’s not here to be typecast. 

 

After Eve’s father is killed by a cult leader for trying to leave the tribe, she is given the choice to join the Ruska Roma family - seen previously in John Wick 3: Parabellum. There she will train as a ballerina in the art of resilience, combat and defense. 

 

Placed into the field on her first contract, Eve discusses the cult behind her father’s death may be closer than they appear. Against the approval of the Ruska Roma director - she forges out on a mission of vengeance. 

 

Len Wiseman replaces Chad Stahelski behind the camera for the first time in John Wick history. However, reports do indicate that Stahelski did return to assist with the action - which if true certainly is to the film’s ultimate benefit. The action while not as naturally smooth as what we’ve come to expect, naturally so though with Eve being a relative amateur comparatively to John Wick. The action is still insane to watch and (literally) explosive to watch play out. De Armas is clearly up for the challenge of kicking ass and taking names - even if that means coming face to face with the Baba Yaga himself. A key scene featured during the trailers involving a flamethrower attack may be one of the best fight sequences in all of John Wick’s five feature films - it’s almost ludicrous how long it goes on for. 

 

Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3, there are a bunch of returning faces such as the director (Anjelica Huston), Charon (Lance Reddick), Winston (Ian McShane) and of course the one and only John Wick (Keanu Reeves). This isn’t their film, this is purely Eve (Ana de Armas) in the lead here and everyone else is playing support to her actions. Norman Reedus joins the cast in a limited capacity as more of a plot device than anything with little Ella - chosen as the mark to keep safe from the ultimate evil of the film. That being the aforementioned cult leader known simply as The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrnes). His villainous way may come across as a bit too simplistic, but people like him do exist in our own bizarre world so I don’t find it too out of the realm of possibilities here. It’s been three films now of watching John Wick try to escape The High Table, so a change of pace is necessary. 

 

Truthfully, while not being near the level of having Keanu Reeves in the lead as John Wick - Ana de Armas’ Eve is a grand addition to the franchise that doesn’t seal itself off in the past or end in any kind of cliffhanger in case this film fails to meet expectations. It’s a fun action film and a spin-off that fits well enough with what’s come before - I’d be open to numerous more installments within this world if it meant we got to see more of this caliber hitting the big screen.