Ballerina (2025)
Typical Wick-style action with a revenge story and non-stop fights. Ballerina is stylish but empty. Watch it for the gun-fu, not the plot.
If you’ve seen any John Wick film before, Ballerina will feel immediately familiar. It’s another stylish dive into the neon-soaked, bullet-riddled underworld that we now know like the back of our hand. This time, the spotlight is on a new face, Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro but the beats are all too recognisable. It’s a pure spin-off with all the franchise’s usual flair but also its predictability. The action is the only real hook here and while it’s entertaining enough, it’s also nothing we haven’t seen before.
Synopsis
The story is razor-thin: Eve, a former ballerina raised in the Ruska Roma assassin school, is out for revenge. That’s literally it. Someone killed her father, she wants justice and her journey leads her through a series of gunfights, knife fights, bar brawls and flamethrower duels because why not? It’s wedged between John Wick Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 but honestly, the timeline details don’t matter much. The film is all setup for the next shootout.
Characters & Performances
Ana de Armas is physically committed and really impressive in combat but there isn’t much else for her character to do emotionally. She’s no John Wick and that’s fine but the film doesn’t give her enough internal drive to make Eve feel like more than just a plot device with great aim. Norman Reedus pop up with fun energy (only for a short moment), while Keanu Reeves also makes an appearance that sort of reminds you how good these films can be when they slow down a little. Anjelica Huston and Gabriel Byrne add some prestige but again, mostly background noise in a movie that’s all about forward motion. I really enjoyed seeing the late Lance Reddick again, on the big screen, one last time 🤍
Direction & Tone
Len Wiseman keeps things moving at full throttle. The tone is serious with the occasional wink but mostly it’s blood, bullets and ballet poses. It’s trying to be cool more than it’s trying to be meaningful and that works if you're only here for the spectacle. The emotional beats are minimal and forgettable, which is disappointing considering the potential depth of a story about grief, legacy, and personal identity. But nope, it’s just revenge.
Cinematography & Visuals
Visually, it slaps. The John Wick brand continues its love affair with symmetrical shots, deep shadows and moody lights reflecting off rainy streets. There’s one particularly wild bar fight that’s creatively choreographed and beautifully sho, it almost redeems the film on its own. But even the best visuals start to blur together when the action is non-stop without real stakes.
Sound & Music
The score follows the same electronic, pulse-heavy vibe from earlier Wick films. It sounds slick, adds to the tension but isn’t very memorable. Guns click, knives slice, glass shatters; all the usual sound candy.
Pacing & Editing
There’s never really a dull moment but the pace comes at the cost of substance. It's one set piece after another and while that’s exciting in short bursts, it gets tiring. Without quieter moments or stronger character work in between, the film lacks rhythm.
Smash Hit Score: 7.2/10
Ballerina is your typical John Wick film; stylish, violent and relentless. But outside of its action scenes, there’s not much to hold onto. It doesn’t add a lot to the universe and doesn’t really stand on its own either. If you love action and just want to see Ana de Armas do cool stuff with knives and guns, you’ll enjoy yourself. But don’t expect anything new or emotionally gripping.
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