Ballerina

Len Wiseman’s Ballerina (2025) is a chaotic, action-packed rollercoaster that follows Eve Marcos' pursuit of revenge against a murderous cult group.

Set between the events of John Wick 2 and 3, the film opens with a young Eve and her father cornered in their home as a result of an attempted escape from a nefarious cultist group. After an intense fight, her father is left fatally wounded with no escape in sight before Eve takes her first life with a nearby pistol. The owner of the New York Continental, Winston, brings her to the Ruska Roma, starting her journey into the dark world of assassination.

Ana de Armas delivers an amazing performance; her intensity in each scene, paired with well-choreographed fight sequences, really distinguishes this entry from the other films in the franchise. It is clear from the outset that although both Eve and John Wick had undergone the same training, each has different preferred methods for taking down their targets. Eve has more of a focus on melee and explosives, with a high proficiency with guns.

A standout scene for me was the unique way that this film tackled the armoury scene that long-term fans of the franchise would be very used to, which was delivered with a very fun and explosive twist that was refreshing to see.

The cinematography draws major inspiration from the earlier entries in the John Wick franchise, with the first half of the film blending striking neon tones with gritty backdrops, and the second half has a postcard-esque feel with the snowy village providing a canvas for violence.

Ballerinas’ less action-heavy focus allowed for more space to push home the emotional context for Eve, her push for vengeance starts as a simple revenge story, but turns into a pursuit to reclaim control of her actions. The growth from the first training sequence through to the climax is well thought out, with clever dialogue and exposition only added where necessary to give context to upcoming events in the film.

This film is a must-watch for fans of the original franchise, delivering a fun and distinctive piece and leaving the franchise in a strong spot for any future spinoffs in the works later down the line.