A Single Pencil Throwaway Scene

In its prime, John Wick has been likened to numerous legendary action and martial arts movies in the annals of cinema. A substantial aspect of the movie lies in the stunts and action direction by former stuntperson-turned-director Chad Stahelski. The fight choreography and creative combat sequences never escape the notice of the filmmakers behind John Wick, with each new installment attempting to surpass scenes from previous films. Drawing inspiration from various classic action, Kung Fu, “Gun Fu” and martial arts movies, John Wick serves as the contemporary action franchise that fans didn’t realize they were craving. In the end, the films’ success is due to a blend of factors, including the types of kills John Wick executes, the richness of the world’s lore, and the deeper storytelling associated with it. However, director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad have admitted that they didn’t have a long-term plan for John Wick, but it has certainly surpassed their initial expectations.

Over the course of the 21st century, there’s been a recurring pattern where established action series keep producing sequels and expanding their scope significantly beyond their initial forms. Lately, we’ve seen a rise in new action franchises, offering unique perspectives on popular genre tropes.

However, it wasn’t until the release of John Wick: Chapter 2 that the franchise truly transformed into its current form, taking the character in an entirely fresh direction.

John Wick Is an Ordinary Revenge Film With a Twist

It Even Has an Unofficial Ending For the Character

As a cinephile, I must admit that I never anticipated the explosive success of the John Wick series, which has become an annual blockbuster event in the martial arts revenge genre. Originally, the first film was envisioned as a unique spin on this niche category, following the story of a skilled assassin who embarks on a brutal quest for vengeance after the tragic loss of his beloved dog and prized vehicle.

With each subsequent sequel, Lionsgate has taken great care to expand John’s personal narrative while also building out the rich tapestry of characters, rules, and conventions that define this sprawling universe.

Upon revisiting the John Wick movies, it could very well be that they improve with each viewing and consistently surpass their predecessors. Initially, John’s abilities in the first film are more rudimentary, but as he encounters escalating conflicts later on, he transforms into the legendary figure that other characters describe him as. The intrigue of John Wick lies in the fact that he appears to be eliminating numerous individuals over a pet dog, yet the narrative consistently unfolds his character in fresh and captivating ways.

Reflecting on it now, he managed quite smoothly and met with minimal opposition in the initial movie. His objective was to track down those who had murdered his dog and stolen his car, intending to retire once he’d finished. However, as the story unfolds, it increasingly becomes a battle of John against all others, with John holding the advantage. The film essentially depicts John eliminating everyone, which is the central theme of the first movie. He goes out, gets pulled back in, and then goes out again. The narrative is straightforward and clear from the start. Interestingly, the manner in which the first movie concludes leaves room for the possibility that there might not even be a sequel. John wraps up his business and returns to his desired retired life, having obtained his revenge.

In one of the film’s memorable quotes, John says, “‘People have been asking me if I’m back, and yes, I think I am.’” But it isn’t until the second movie that John fully re-enters the game, when the risks are at their peak. It takes more than just talk for John to live up to the legend people speak of; he doesn’t truly embody that legend until John Wick: Chapter 2.

John Wick Truly Returns in Chapter 2

One Key Moment Signifies That John Wick Is Really Back

One of the most memorable scenes in the entire John Wick series, and a defining characteristic of his character, is a moment from his past that strikes fear into people and keeps them constantly discussing him as an extraordinary individual with unique abilities. Essentially, he’s like the Boogeyman in these films because he rarely dies and is someone nobody would want pursuing them.

In the initial film, John exerts an influence on those around him, yet it isn’t until subsequent sequels that viewers fully grasp the magnitude of this impact. Directors Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad skillfully portray John’s transformation as his circumstances change. As the challenges escalate, John Wick increasingly embodies the legend associated with his name. The narrative is often shared among other characters to illustrate the powerful impression John makes on those he encounters.

In the initial movie, Viggo Tarasov narrates an incident where he witnessed John murder three men in a bar using only a pencil, highlighting how astonishing and chaotic it felt. At the outset of John Wick: Chapter 2, Viggo’s sibling Abram Tarasov shares this exact story with one of his contacts prior to John retrieving his stolen vehicle from them.

This specific tale vividly portrays the myth and terrifying image of John Wick as ‘The Boogeyman’ in people’s minds. Yet, it is only in the second movie that John truly fulfills this legend as his life spirals out of control. In the initial film, John seeks vengeance to reclaim what he perceived as stolen from him. Post this, John yearns for a peaceful retirement, wishing to escape his past and the man he once was. However, in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’, John is trapped when an old debt resurfaces, causing more chaos in his life.

In simpler terms, a “marker” refers to an obligation or blood oath that binds John to Santino D’Antonio, one of his former associates, requiring him to perform a task. John sees this as his final job, hoping it will set him free. However, when D’Antonio deceives John and places a $7 million bounty on his head, John is compelled to re-enter the world he had left behind. From then on, he spends every moment trying to stay alive, marking his full return as The Boogeyman. This return is emphasized in the movie by a pivotal scene where John kills two men using only a pencil.

John Wick Repeats His Pencil Story in Real Time

Baba Yaga Officially Returns to the Fold

In the heart of “John Wick: Chapter 2”, Santino D’Antonio deceives John, turning what was supposed to be his final job into a dangerous trap. This deception also triggers a $7 million bounty on John, drastically altering his circumstances. From then on, John is perpetually battling to stay alive, and his situation only deteriorates as he strives to find an escape route.

This pattern continues in the third and fourth movies as well, where viewers fully witness the fury of John Wick. In a key section, following the placement of a bounty on his head, John faces numerous assassins trying to take him down. Throughout this stretch, two of these assassins receive what’s known as the “John Wick treatment.”

In a thrilling sequence of events, the action unfolds with swift cuts between different parts of John’s fateful night, where he encounters numerous assassins aiming to claim the price on his head. Each of these assassins meets a grisly end, but two specifically face the full force of Baba Yaga. As John battles these men, he comes across a pencil nearby and uses it to brutally and ingeniously dispatch the assassins. This seemingly insignificant moment showcases John asserting his own legend in reality, symbolizing his role as The Boogeyman and reclaiming the life he abandoned. From that instant, John Wick is back with a vengeance, and anyone who dares to challenge him will wish they hadn’t. The enduring tale of John Wick continues clandestinely within the confines of the movie franchise.

2025-04-23 00:51