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The Continental: From The World Of John Wick is a three-part prequel to the Keanu Reeves movies, so will act as extending the franchise, along with 2024’s Ballerina, until John Wick Chapter 5 comes along.
Beginning in New York City, 1955, there’s a brief scene I don’t want to detail because you’ll learn more about that as the programme goes along, but we move years later to the ’70s (albeit with no specific year given), where Frankie Scott (Ben Robson) isn’t interested in the New Year’s Even shenanigans, because he has other fish to fry which will involve him creating a massive diversion and stealing a particular item, thus leading lead to the same frenetic action as the movies, where everyone has far too many bullets in their guns, including a blistering staircase shoot-out.
We know that, in the present day, the Continental – the safe haven for anyone who needs to visit – will be run by his brother, Winston (Colin Woodell), but for the time being, the man at the helm is Cormac – Mel Gibson on top form – and he doesn’t like it when people try to screw him over…
So far, other characters thrown into the mix are Lou (Jessica Allain – Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022) and Miles (Hubert Point-Du Jour) who’ll soon cross paths with Winston – and share a certain connection, there’s an odd couple in the dialogue-lite Hansel (Mark Musashi) and Gretal (Marina Mazepa), while Frankie is married to the stunning Yen (Nhung Kate), who’s an absolute bad-ass! Can we have a whole movie with her, please?
Plus, Ayomide Adegun plays the younger Charon, as depicted in the four films to date by the late, great Lance Reddick.
So far, I’ve only seen the first episode of three, with a total running time of around 4.5hrs… so, probably about half the length of John Wick Chapter 5… Hence, I know a number of plotlines have still to be tied up or expanded upon, and I will watch the others, obviously, but what we have is very stylish and features some fantastic music including ZZ Top (La Grange), Yes (Roundabout) and Boney M (Daddy Cool).
While this isn’t John Wick, it does have the style of the movies, and similarly, don’t expect The Continental to make a massive amount of sense, but it looks great and it’s entertaining, which is what the franchise is essentially about.
If I had a slight complaint, it’s only a moment showing collateral damage of an innocent bystander getting bumped off in the melee, but that always annoys me in any films and TV shows, because in reality, they would have a life and that’s just been snuffed out… even though it’s not reality, but you get my point.
Thanks to our friends at Prime Video for the screener prior to broadcast.
The Continental: From The World Of John Wick is on Prime Video from Friday September 22nd, with episodes 2 and 3 on the following Fridays.
NOTE:
Trailer posted September 19th 00:00
Updated with spoiler-free review of episode 1: September 20th 16:00.
Cert: 
Running time: 90 minutes per episode (3 episodes)
Release date: September 22nd 2023
Studio: Prime Video
Format: 2.39:1
Series Directors: Albert Hughes, Charlotte Brändström
Developed for TV: Greg Coolidge, Shawn Simmons, Kirk Ward
Writers: Greg Coolidge, Shawn Simmons, Kirk Ward, Ken Kristensen
Producers: Iain Smith, Mark Taylor
Music: Raffertie
Cast:
Cormac: Mel Gibson
Winston Scott: Colin Woodell
Frankie Scott: Ben Robson
KD: Mishel Prada
Lou: Jessica Allain
Miles: Hubert Point-Du Jour
Yen: Nhung Kate
Charon: Ayomide Adegun
Mayhew: Jeremy Bobb
Lemmy: Adam Shapiro
The Adjudicator: Katie McGrath
Gretal: Marina Mazepa
Hansel: Mark Musashi
Young Winston: Fflyn Edwards
Young Frankie: Ben Robinson
Edwin the Elevator Operator: Philip Philmar
Continental Concierge: Sallay Garnett
Jenkins: Ray McKinnon
Young Uncle Charlie: Peter Greene
Orphan Master: Dan Li
Ronnie: Chris Ryman
Weiko: Roy Hu
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.