Ballerina expands the John Wick universe by shifting the spotlight from stoic revenge to a more emotionally charged and intimate journey. Eve, portrayed with icy intensity by Ana de Armas, is a character forged not only through pain but through discipline, control, and the search for meaning in violence. Her story blends elegance and brutality—symbolized by her dual identity as a ballet dancer and assassin. Where John Wick’s vengeance was rooted in love lost, Eve’s is rooted in a shattered family and a legacy she never chose, but refuses to run from.
The film takes time to explore Eve’s transformation, showing her rigorous training under the Ruska Roma and the psychological toll of becoming “Kikimora.” Her evolution is less about vengeance alone and more about reclaiming identity. Unlike Wick, who is largely defined by silence and suppression, Eve’s struggle is expressed physically—through her body, movement, and the graceful violence of her actions. The choreography of the action sequences mirrors her internal conflict, creating a rhythm between her humanity and the weapon she’s been made to become.
In contrast to the quiet mythic tone of the John Wick films, Ballerina leans into emotional vulnerability and familial trauma. The reappearance—and subsequent loss—of Eve’s sister Lena introduces a moral question at the heart of the story: Is revenge enough to justify survival? Eve’s choices reflect a break from the cycle of violence. Instead of merely eliminating her enemies, she saves a child (Ella) who represents innocence in a world consumed by blood debts and power games. That moment hints at a redemptive arc that Wick never allowed himself.
Stylistically, the film remains faithful to the John Wick aesthetic—sleek neon lighting, stylized gunplay, global high-society assassins—but injects it with a more intimate tone. Prague and Hallstatt provide haunting, gothic backdrops that echo Eve’s psychological state. The ballet sequences are not just visually beautiful but emotionally symbolic, revealing how the art of control in dance mirrors the control she must exercise in her violent world. The score and cinematography elevate the film into something operatic, poetic even, amidst the chaos.
Ultimately, Ballerina succeeds by offering both homage and evolution. It doesn’t merely repackage the John Wick formula with a female lead; it deepens the emotional range of the universe and introduces moral complexity. Eve is not a clone of Wick—she’s something new: a weapon forged by others, reclaiming her own story. The final moments, with a bounty looming and freedom fleeting, set the stage for a continuation where survival isn’t just about staying alive—but deciding who you are in a world that keeps trying to define you.