Starting with part 2 they expanded the Wick Universe by creating a concept called the High Table with its arcane rules and extreme sense of justice. This has gone some way to supplying a backbone to the story arc and they have leaned into this in every film since. With Ballerina it barely generates a mention and it’s a sad absence because this work is very light on dynamics and story.

Ana de Armas is fine as the main character Eve and her ability in the fight scenes is engaging and exhilarating. But we learn so little about her life or her motivations. Those moments of exposition are sadly missing and would have given the audience a breather to help build anticipation for the next fight scene and provide a path to the person under the persona.

The fight scenes do stand out as Eve’s technique of using any and all available items as weapons is quite a departure from Wick’s modus operandi. No one can argue the motivation behind Wick’s explosion of violence but Eve’s is not as clearly defined. Setting almost every fight scene in dark surroundings also blunts the impact. Taken in the context of the Wick Universe, it’s a worthwhile view but as a solo work not so much.
Rob Hudson
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From the World of John Wick: Ballerina stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is coming to Australian cinemas on June 5, 2025
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With John Woo’s name attached to Silent Night as director, things were looking good and other than the occasional overabundance of doves his sentimentality usually runs red. Not Santa Red either. With Joel Kinnaman (Suicide Squad and For All Mankind) named as lead actor, things also looked good in the action stakes.

Kinnaman plays Godlock a man so tormented by horrendous events in his past that when he seeks revenge on the perpetrators, you know he is going to be all in. With Woo helping to paint the canvas behind him things will certainly be over the top and should be far from route holiday histrionics. In the action stakes things live up to expectations, surprise-wise not so much.

The storyline is extremely predictable and features few surprises but this does little to stifle the fun. It’s like the relative that always brings sub-par dishes to family affairs but never lets you down in regards to fluids that are inebriant. The connection to that major of major holiday is tenuous at best and that is just the way we like them around here.
Rob Hudson
www.rialtodistribution.com

While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death.

Full of Woo’s signature style, Silent Night redefines the action genre with visceral, thrill-a-minute storytelling.

Silent night stars Joel Kinnaman, Kid Cudi, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Harold Torres, Vinny O’Brien and will be released in Aussie cinemas December 7!
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