John Wick’s Shocking Link to Buster Keaton Revealed!

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The John Wick film series draws significant influence from an unexpected actor who was famous for his comedic roles during the silent film era. In the initial John Wick movie, Keanu Reeves‘ character, John Wick, embarks on a quest to eliminate the individual responsible for killing his cherished pet dog, and anyone who dares oppose him. However, in the second installment, the story shifts as Wick becomes the target of other assassins, prompting the malicious High Table to issue a bounty on his head. This sets off a global fight against numerous assassins.

The franchise excels in its distinctive blend of martial arts and firearms combat, drawing significant inspiration from action movie directors like John Woo and martial arts stars such as Jackie Chan. Characters in this series, notably Wick, exhibit constant motion during fight sequences, mimicking the style seen in Chan’s films. The meticulously planned fight scenes in John Wick, featuring both men and women using a wide array of weapons, resemble classic Woo action movies. Additionally, filmmaker Chad Stahelski was influenced by another acting legend – Buster Keaton – and each sequel contains a tribute to his legendary comedy style.

Buster Keaton Has Been A Constant Inspiration Throughout The John Wick Movies

Director Chad Stahelski Inserted Fun Into His Action Movies

In creating the “John Wick” films, Director Chad Stahelski has always been transparent about his inspirations. He openly acknowledges Jackie Chan for teaching him to make it appear as though John Wick can overpower numerous adversaries by constantly moving. A influence that might take fans of the action series by surprise is the silent film comedy star, Buster Keaton. As recounted by Stahelski, this connection was formed when he was a child, watching classic films with his grandfather. (Source: Slate)

Grandfather possessed numerous 8mm films of silent comedy legends such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. He often played Charlie Chaplin in the background. I’ve already watched these comedians, but their impact hasn’t fully registered until I engage in a few discussions with Yuen Woo-ping and his crew. My first encounter with Jackie Chan was when he explained the origins of his career.

As stated by Stahelski, Jackie Chan’s filmmaking style was significantly influenced by Buster Keaton during the silent era. During this time, there were three significant figures in slapstick comedy – Charlie Chaplin, known for his character “The Tramp,” and Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, who gained prominence for their physical comedy routines involving stunts like falls and exaggerated accidents. Many of Jackie Chan’s movies and John Wick’s action sequences echo these elements from the silent era.

John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, pointed out an interesting resemblance between Keanu Reeves and Buster Keaton. According to him, both actors possess a unique ability to convey a story merely through their eyes as they gaze into the camera, without uttering a single word.

When you watch Buster Keaton, notice his expressions – for instance, when he’s in love, his eyes sparkle. If you revisit any of Harold Lloyd’s or Buster Keaton’s films, it’s amazing! They convey entire stories without uttering a single word. I believe people underestimate just how extraordinary that is. They expressed emotions like love, fear, surprise, and humor through subtle gestures. So, take a moment to appreciate that.

John Wick 4’s Stair Fight Is One Of The Franchise’s Best Keaton-Inspired Scenes

John Wick Getting Knocked Back Down Is Classic Buster Keaton

Chad Stahelski mentioned that he incorporated elements of Buster Keaton into every John Wick film. In other words, the director stated that even when it seems like things have reached their end, he would unexpectedly add a twist – for instance, throwing someone down stairs. He further explained that this unpredictability is also reflected in the movies through scenes where you might think the dog will not appear again, or the protagonist gets hit by a car, or runs out of bullets. The director’s philosophy in martial arts seems to revolve around surprise and subversion.

In the film John Wick 4, there’s a sequence where Wick plunges from a high window, cushioned by awnings – reminiscent of a scene in Buster Keaton’s movie Three Ages. Additionally, you’ll find a moment in the same film where an image of Buster Keaton is subtly depicted in the train station backdrop. Earlier, in John Wick 2, another film of Buster Keaton was displayed on a building facade. The Hall of Mirrors scene in John Wick 2 was influenced by Charlie Chaplin’s The Circus, and the movie poster itself referenced Harold Lloyd.

In contrast, the scene in any “John Wick” film that most resembles Buster Keaton’s style is the stair fight in “John Wick 4”. During this confrontation, John Wick ascends a staircase to reach the Sacré-Cœur for a dueling-pistols showdown with the Marquis. However, upon reaching the top and being pushed back, he plummets down all the way to the bottom (as described by “Screencrush”).

My mind was solely focused on Buster Keaton throughout this process. I wondered, ‘What would Buster Keaton do in this situation?’ If Buster were here, he’d climb step by step, battle his way up, stumble at the top step, fall back down, then exclaim something like ‘Darn it.’ My approach has always been to view things through a silent film lens, and that’s how this idea was born.

In a different phrasing, here’s how I would express that: The scene featuring the staircase wasn’t intended as a joke, contrary to what might be assumed. Similar to Buster Keaton’s films, where his comedic stunts and mishaps were integral to the narrative and character development, Chad Stahelski employs such moments in John Wick to underscore that it’s not meant to be a joking matter. Stahelski himself referred to the staircase fall as a “metaphor for the entire film,” implying that even the humorous elements carry a deeper significance.

Source: Slate

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2025-05-24 03:41