A retired hitman seeks revenge for the death of his dog and faces off against a powerful underworld figure's son. Other loglines ›
How to read these: in industry coverage, Pass is the default outcome for the majority of professional scripts, and Consider means the reader stayed in the room. Industry-wide, the median professional evaluation sits at a 6 — scores of 8+ are rare everywhere, on purpose.
A championable mainstream commercial thriller anchored by a distinctive grief-to-violence engine and highly legible set pieces, and it requires targeted structural work on middle-act escalation before it can reach the highest advocacy band.
A mainstream commercial revenge thriller aiming for propulsive, near-wordless action pleasure anchored by a legible grief engine and a ritualized underworld.
Readers split on the contract: four read this as mainstream commercial, one as elevated commercial. The split traces to how much weight the ritualized underworld and minimalist prose carry against the straightforward revenge mechanics.
The script's grounded grief setup and consistently legible, mythic action execution provide enough structural and tonal strength to hold the read above a lower verdict despite middle-act repetition.
The middle act's repetitive escalation pattern and the antagonists' reactive posture, combined with limited emotional follow-through on the opening grief, keep the draft from reaching the highest band.
A script with a distinctive grief-to-violence engine and highly legible action set pieces that requires targeted structural work on middle-act escalation and antagonist pressure.
Readers read as Mainstream commercial4 Elevated commercial1
Re-engineer the middle act so each confrontation yields a concrete consequence or narrows the distance to the target, converting the repetitive chain into a cumulative pursuit that keeps the grief engine active.
Tightening the middle act's causal chain risks adding explanatory dialogue or tactical bookkeeping that could overwrite the script's near-wordless emotional register.
When restructuring the pursuit, preserve the silence and physical detail that convert loss into action, avoiding any new dialogue that names the protagonist's motivation.
Adding tactical complexity or recurring antagonist pressure to the middle act could dilute the clean, decisive set-piece rhythm that currently defines the script's appeal.
When introducing cumulative consequences, maintain the spatial clarity and economy of motion in each set piece rather than padding them with prolonged exchanges.
The reader loses forward pull as each new location feels like a reset of the last, with urgency dissipating rather than accumulating.
Confrontations are structured as isolated information-gathering stops that clear the room without changing the protagonist's options or forcing the opposition to adapt.
One path is to let each stop cost the protagonist a tangible resource or visibly narrow the search, so the chain of venues accumulates into a tightening pursuit.
The reader loses the emotional tether that made the opening land, so the back half reads as skilled but affectless.
The script converts grief into action at the midpoint but does not revisit or complicate that emotional state, leaving the violence to operate on autopilot.
One path is to embed a single quiet beat or a collateral-damage choice in the middle act that forces the protagonist to confront the cost of his violence without halting the pursuit.
The reader is pulled out of the propulsive register into a lecture mode, which temporarily suspends forward pull and makes the middle act feel longer.
Mythology and rules are front-loaded into explanatory monologues rather than demonstrated through the protagonist's navigation of the world.
One path is to convert the lore into behavior the protagonist must navigate, letting the rules be discovered through action or conflict rather than stated outright.
Strip the serial ellipses, all-caps onomatopoeia, and declarative emphasis fragments from action lines, trusting the choreography to carry the impact.
Run a strict proofread to standardize slug lines, transitions, and character name casing, and correct recurring typos in action descriptions.
The script's grief-to-violence conversion and highly legible action set pieces provide a clear, championable commercial asset that survives skeptical pushback.
The middle act's repetitive escalation pattern and the antagonists' reactive posture prevent the script from sustaining its strongest promise across the full runtime.
On the score: The score sits at the high edge of its band — a focused revision could push it to the next verdict.
Setting: Not provided in the provided context, Not provided in the provided context
Themes: Grief and Loss, Revenge, Redemption, Violence and Death, Friendship and Loyalty
Conflict & Stakes: Primary conflicts and stakes are not provided in the provided context
Mood: Not provided in the provided context
Comparable Scripts: Taken, The Equalizer, John Rambo
This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.
Breaks down your script along various categories.
Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.
All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.
This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.
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Your whole script read on three things — Design (is it built), Execution (does it play on the page), and Involvement (does it draw you in) — then mapped scene by scene. The rows go Script → Acts → Sequences → Scenes in story order, left to right; a unit’s width is its length in pages.
Colour depends on the mode. By default you’re on Triage — a recommendation for each part: Keep (green), Polish, Rework, or Two groups low (red). Switch Colour by (top) to a group (Design / Execution / Involvement) or one of the twelve axes and the colour becomes that signal’s score instead — red (needs work) through green (strong), with grey where a part isn’t owed that signal. Either way it’s a map of where to look.
To explore: click any cell for its detailed read — what’s working, what’s dragging, and your options — and 💬 Ask about it right there. To see an act’s scenes larger, hover the act and click Zoom in (the magnifier); Zoom out in the same spot, or Esc, goes back. While zoomed, the other acts stay as narrow strips you can click, and ← → move between them. Use Colour by (top) to recolour by a single craft signal, or the Findings / Axes / Patterns tabs to read it different ways.
High-level overview
The movie follows the story of John Wick, a retired hitman dealing with the recent loss of his wife. When his dog is killed in a robbery, he seeks revenge against those responsible, which includes the son of a powerful underworld figure. With a bounty on his head, John must fight for survival against a slew of assassins while trying to bring down his target. After successfully completing his mission, John seeks redemption by rescuing a dog and driving off into the distance.
Scene by Scene Summaries
Act-by-act sequence summaries
John Wick wakes in a dilapidated farmhouse, goes through a numb morning routine, receives a call, and breaks down. He visits his comatose wife at the hospital, gives permission to turn off life support, and says goodbye. Returning home, he destroys photos in rage and contemplates suicide, but is interrupted by a delivery: a puppy from Norma. Reading her final letter, he accepts the gift and names the dog Moose. A three-year time jump shows his homestead restored.
Three years later, John enjoys a happy daily routine with Moose, including fixing his Mustang, driving fast, lunch at the park, and a gas station encounter where Iosef Tarasov tries to buy the Mustang and is rebuffed. That night, John wakes to Moose growling; she runs outside and is killed by intruders. John is knocked out and wakes to find Moose dead in his arms. He buries her and transforms his appearance into something dangerous.
John, now emotionally cold and determined, stares at photos of Norma and Moose, then transforms into a focused killer. He takes a bus to the city and goes to Aurelio's chop shop. Meanwhile, Iosef joyrides in John's stolen Mustang to the same shop for a paint job. Aurelio recognizes the car, finds John's name, and punches Iosef when he boasts about the dog. The crew leaves; John crosses the street toward the shop.
John visits Aurelio to learn about his car, discovers it was taken by Takeshi's crew, then attacks their garage, kills the crew, retrieves the Mustang, and escapes a police chase. He interrogates a surviving driver and learns that Iosef Tarasov's father owns The Red Circle club.
Viggo learns from Aurelio that Iosef stole John's car and killed his dog. He then confronts Iosef, brutally beating him and explaining John's legendary military and hitman background, making Iosef realize the gravity of his actions.
John arms himself in his basement, then kills four masked intruders. He deals with a police officer who covers for him, wraps the bodies, pays Charlie for disposal, and cleans his home. Meanwhile, Viggo puts a $2 million bounty on John and calls Marcus for help.
Marcus agrees to help Viggo. John travels by train to the Continental, using gold coins to bypass security. He checks in, assembles an arsenal, then goes to The Red Circle club. He bribes his way in, bypasses security, and follows Viktor into the bathroom, where he kills the bodyguards.
John kills Viktor's bodyguards, interrogates Viktor, learns Iosef is with Viggo, and then calls Iosef to threaten him with biblical vengeance before retreating to the Continental for medical treatment.
John pays the doctor, stores his ceramic blade in the speakeasy locker, then enjoys a drink and Norma's song while Perkins photographs him for unknown adversaries.
Five masked men attack John in his room, but he kills four and captures David, who reveals that Viggo uses a small bank in Little Russia. John knocks David out and hires Harry to guard him.
John meets Marcus on a bridge, receives moral support, then arranges a meeting with Viggo at a diner. The negotiation fails, John shoots through the limo, and escapes into the subway.
John kills Kirill and his men in the subway, retrieves a duffel bag and car, then disguises himself and forces the bank manager to open Viggo's vault, burning piles of cash and artworks before casually leaving.
John drives a stolen diesel truck under heavy fire, crashes it, kills several gunmen, and uses armor-piercing bullets to assassinate Viggo through a sedan. After Viggo dies mid-phone call, John pours alcohol over his wounds and walks away as the sedan explodes.
After learning Iosef's location, John launches a multi-phase attack: he eliminates snipers and destroys a cannery with explosives, swims to the ship, boards it while killing guards and the Captain, then chases Iosef into the pilothouse. He breaks Iosef's wrist, hurls him into a grain chute, and suffocates him. John then treats his own bullet wounds at a veterinarian's office.
John returns to the veterinarian's office, adopts a dog named Miko that was scheduled to be euthanized, and walks out into a snowy alley. The scene transitions to the Continental, where David's membership is revoked by Winston. Then John drives away in a 1969 Ford Mustang with Miko, symbolizing a new chapter.
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Hover over each axis on the radar chart to see what that category measures and why it matters.
Analysis: The screenplay demonstrates a compelling central character arc in John Wick, effectively transforming him from a grief-stricken recluse into a relentless avenger and ultimately allowing him a measure of closure. The emotional hook of the dog's death is potent, and John's journey is grounded by strong, terse dialogue and a consistent internal logic. However, most supporting characters lack depth and dimensionality, serving more as functional archetypes than fully-realized individuals. The strongest development is reserved for John and, to a lesser extent, Viggo, while characters like Marcus, Aurelio, and even Iosef could benefit from deeper exploration to enhance the story's emotional impact.
Analysis: The premise of John Wick is deceptively simple yet emotionally potent: a grieving, retired hitman receives a dog as a final gift from his late wife, and when the dog is killed in a home invasion tied to Russian mobsters, he returns to an underworld he left behind to exact an intensely personal revenge. The screenplay establishes its inciting incident clearly and quickly, then builds a richly ritualized criminal world (the Continental, gold coins, codes of conduct) that elevates the premise beyond a standard revenge thriller. Key enhancements would focus on deepening the John-Moose bond before the loss, trimming episodic middle detours, and resolving continuity inconsistencies to preserve the premise's emotional logic.
Analysis: The screenplay demonstrates a strong, coherent structure built around a classic three-act revenge narrative. The emotional setup is handled with restraint and depth, making the inciting incident—the death of Moose—both devastating and dramatically effective. The Continental Hotel mythology, gold coin economy, and well-placed world-building details lend the plot a distinctive identity that elevates it above genre clichés. However, the middle section contains some repetitive action beats, the Marcus subplot is left under-resolved, and the final redemption beat with Miko, while thematically apt, is brief. Overall, this is a tightly constructed, emotionally grounded thriller with an excellent balance of tension, release, and escalation.
Analysis: The screenplay effectively weaves its central themes of grief, loss, love, and the search for meaning into a propulsive revenge narrative. John Wick's journey is both heartbreaking and cathartic: the loss of Norma and then Moose reawakens a dormant violence, but the final act reframes that violence as a necessary passage toward healing. The script communicates its messages with clarity and emotional precision, though some themes are familiar genre tropes and a few moments risk being didactic. Overall, it offers a resonant meditation on how love and ritual sustain us, and how vengeance can be both a poison and a path toward peace.
Analysis: The screenplay demonstrates strong visual storytelling instincts, particularly in its quiet domestic imagery, symbolic object language (daisies, the Mustang, the dog), and the gradual transformation of John Wick from grieving husband to unstoppable force. Action sequences are functional and intense, but sometimes rely on formulaic descriptions; the most effective moments are those that juxtapose brutal violence with emotional subtext, such as the dog's death, the speakeasy performance, and the final rescue of Miko.
Analysis: The screenplay delivers a powerful emotional journey built on authentic grief, a deeply earned human-animal bond, and a cathartic revenge narrative that ultimately resolves into hope. Its greatest strength is the visceral portrayal of loss—Norma's death, John's suicidal despair, and Moose's killing land with genuine weight. The action sequences, while exhilarating, sometimes sacrifice emotional nuance for momentum, and the villains remain archetypal rather than humanized. The final rescue of Miko completes a resonant thematic circle, transforming grief into renewed purpose. To deepen impact, the script could pause more on John's internal conflict between kills and give the antagonists greater psychological realism.
Analysis: The screenplay establishes a clear, emotionally grounded revenge narrative with strong inciting incidents and escalating conflict. However, the stakes are mitigated by John's near-superhuman invulnerability and the underdevelopment of key antagonists and allies, which limits sustained narrative tension.
Analysis: The John Wick screenplay delivers a fresh take on the revenge thriller by anchoring its high-octane violence to a deeply emotional, human catalyst: the loss of a beloved dog. Its originality shines in the creation of a rich underworld mythology—the Continental Hotel, gold coins, and a code among assassins—and in crafting a protagonist who is at once tragically vulnerable and mythically unstoppable. While the revenge structure follows familiar genre beats, the screenplay's emotional core, world-building, and tonal balance between domestic quietude and brutal action set it apart as a cleverly imaginative genre evolution.
Expand to see detailed analysis
View Complete AnalysisProtagonist
Antagonist
Supporting Character
Antagonist
| Theme | Theme Details | Theme Explanation |
|---|---|---|
|
Grief and Loss
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John is mourning the loss of his wife and the death of his dog, which motivates his actions throughout the screenplay.
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Grief and loss are central themes to the story of John Wick, the loss of his wife and his dog motivating him to take revenge and act on his own terms. |
|
Revenge
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John seeks revenge on those who have wronged him, starting with Iosef and his gang stealing his car and then moving on to those who were hired to kill him.
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The theme of revenge is a driving force in John Wick, as his anger and desire for revenge motivate him to take action against those who have wronged him. |
|
Redemption
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John is seeking to redeem himself by leaving his violent past as a hired killer behind, but is ultimately forced to embrace his violent nature once again in order to achieve his goals.
|
The theme of redemption is also present in John Wick, as he seeks to leave his violent past behind and start anew, but ultimately has to embrace that part of himself in order to achieve his goals. |
|
Violence and Death
|
The film is filled with scenes of violence and death, from the opening sequence where John's wife dies to the final confrontation with Iosef.
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The theme of violence and death is prominent throughout the screenplay, as it is a defining characteristic of John Wick's world and his own actions. |
|
Friendship and Loyalty
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John's friendship and loyalty to Marcus are important to the film's plot and his overall character.
|
The theme of friendship and loyalty is also important to the story, as John's relationship with Marcus is a defining aspect of his character and the film's plot. |
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| Studio Binder | Movie Themes: Examples of Common Themes for Screenwriters |
| Coverfly | Improving your Screenplay's theme |
| John August | Writing from Theme |
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Story, Plot, Genre, Theme - Screenwriting Basics | Screenwriting basics - beginner video |
| What is theme | Discussion on ways to layer theme into a screenplay. |
| Thematic Mistakes You're Making in Your Script | Common Theme mistakes and Philosophical Conflicts |
Story Engine reads your whole script as one machine with eight parts: what John Wick — a retired assassin in his sixties, grieving his wife's death, who finds a reason to live in his dog Moose. wants and the plan to get it, what stands in the way, the rules of the world, whether the pressure builds, whether scenes deliver it, whether setups pay off, what the story is about, and whether those parts work together. We show which parts work, which slip, and where to start.
Everything above was written for you before you arrived. These are the things you can set running yourself, on the whole script or on one scene at a time.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.
It works, but how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingWhat happens here obliges what comes next.
An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
A montage compresses time. It isn’t built to turn on a single thread.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
A real force keeps it pushing forward Pressure
HoldingWhat happens here obliges what comes next.
An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.
Read on its own, how it’s built and how much it draws you in both fall short, so this needs rebuilding more than polishing. Mainly: it restates its note rather than deepening it.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
A transition carries us between beats. It owes less structurally than a scene built to turn.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingWhat happens here obliges what comes next.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingIt commits to one clear thing and holds it.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.
It works, but how it’s built, how it plays on the page and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
A ritual beat repeats a known pattern on purpose, so movement and freshness read low by design.
It works, but how it’s built could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it.
It leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it Pressure
HoldingThe exit pulls you into the next one.
A ritual beat repeats a known pattern on purpose, so movement and freshness read low by design.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
It plays close to the version we’ve seen before Freshness
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingThe exit pulls you into the next one.
It works, but how it’s built, how it plays on the page and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it isn’t clearly about one thing yet.
It isn’t clearly about one thing yet Contract
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
HoldingThe reader can follow what matters.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingIt commits to one clear thing and holds it.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
HoldingIt commits to one clear thing and holds it.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
It holds up as written — worth protecting.
The situation deepens as it goes Development
HoldingA real force keeps it pushing forward.
Read on its own, how it’s built falls short. Mainly: it restates its note rather than deepening it.
It restates its note rather than deepening it Development
HoldingEvery beat and line earns its place.
Your scene scores are compared against professional produced screenplays in our vault (The Matrix, Breaking Bad, etc.). The percentile shows where you rank compared to these films.
Example: A score of 8.5 in Dialogue might be 85th percentile (strong!), while the same 8.5 in Conflict might only be 50th percentile (needs work). The percentile tells you what your raw scores actually mean.
Hover over each axis on the radar chart to see what that category measures and why it matters.
“Functional” (5–6) is a solid, professional scene — that's where most scenes sit. The scale rides low on purpose, so it has room to point down (where to fix) and up (what's working).
Scenes now use the full 0–10 scale, so your numbers will look lower and more spread out than before. That's the new, smarter model being honest — not a verdict on your script.
The table below uses the same colors: warm = worth a look · neutral = fine · green = working. The point is awareness, not maxing every number — a scene can be light on plot or conflict for good reasons.
| Compelled to Read | Story Content | Character Development | Scene Elements | Audience Engagement | Technical Aspects | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Click for Full Analysis | Triage | Design | Overall | Clarity | Scene Impact | Concept | Plot | Originality | Characters | Character Changes | Internal Goal | External Goal | Conflict | Opposition | High stakes | Story forward | Twist | Emotional Impact | Dialogue | Engagement | Pacing | Formatting | Structure | |
| 1 - Scorn | PolishOrientationIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 7 | 8 / 7 | 6 / 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2 - John's Loss | PolishAftermathIt works, but how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 6 | 7 / 6 | 6 / 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
| 3 - The Letter and the Puppy | PolishDeliveryIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 5 / 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | |
| 4 - Morning Routine | PolishMontageIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 8 / 7 | 6 / 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | |
| 5 - The Death of Moose | KeepAftermathIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 6 - John Wick mourns Moose and prepares for action | Low on its ownTransitionRead on its own, how it’s built and how much it draws you in both fall short, so this needs rebuilding more than polishing. Mainly: it restates its note rather than deepening it. | BrokenThe underlying story machine isn’t holding — worth looking at before polish. | 6 | 8 / 7 | 6 / 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 7 - John Wick Confronts Iosef and His Gang | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 8 - Retribution | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 9 - High-Speed Chase and Interrogation | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 10 - Retribution | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 11 - Viggo and Iosef's Showdown | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 12 - Revenge is Coming | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 13 - Clean Up Duty | PolishAftermathIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 8 / 8 | 7 / 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 14 - The Bounty | PolishDeliveryIt works, but how it’s built, how it plays on the page and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 8 / 7 | 6 / 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 15 - Retired | PolishDeliveryIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 7 / 6 | 5 / 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
| 16 - John Prepares for Battle | PolishDeliveryIt works, but how it’s built and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 8 / 7 | 5 / 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 17 - John Wick Takes Out Viktor | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 18 - The Red Circle Assassination | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 19 - John Seeks Revenge | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 20 - Preparing for Battle | KeepRitualIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 6 | 8 / 7 | 5 / 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 21 - John at The Continental's Speak Easy | PolishRitualIt works, but how it’s built could be stronger. Mainly: it leans on mood instead of something actually pushing it. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 7 | 8 / 7 | 7 / 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 22 - The Attack | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 9 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 23 - Ambush at the Continental | KeepAftermathIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 24 - Late-night conversation | KeepRelationship shiftIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 7 | 6 / 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |
| 25 - Diner Ambush | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 26 - The Bank Heist | PolishPursuitIt works, but how it’s built, how it plays on the page and how much it draws you in could be stronger. Mainly: it isn’t clearly about one thing yet. | SoftThe structure works but is leaking power in places. | 6 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 27 - Bank Heist | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 7 / 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 28 - The Heist and Ambush | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 29 - Assault on The Chayka | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 6 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 30 - John's Escape | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | |
| 31 - The Final Showdown | KeepPursuitIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 9 / 9 | 8 / 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | |
| 32 - The Final Confrontation | KeepDeliveryIt holds up as written — worth protecting. | SolidThe story machine is built and mostly working. | 7 | 8 / 8 | 7 / 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |
| 33 - John's Redemption | ReworkDeliveryRead on its own, how it’s built falls short. Mainly: it restates its note rather than deepening it. | BrokenThe underlying story machine isn’t holding — worth looking at before polish. | 7 | 8 / 7 | 5 / 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | |
| Voice Analysis | |
|---|---|
| Summary: | The writer's voice throughout the screenplay is characterized by minimalistic and concise writing, sparse dialogue, and atmospheric description. The writer emphasizes action and physical details over exposition, and the tone varies from somber and pensive to tense and gritty. |
| Voice Contribution | The writer's voice contributes to the script by creating a sense of atmosphere and tension. The minimalist dialogue and description allow the audience to focus on the emotional depth of the characters and the intensity of the action. The sparse writing style also adds to the realism and grittiness of the screenplay. |
| Best Representation Scene | 16 - John Prepares for Battle |
| Best Scene Explanation | Scene 16 is the best representation of the writer's unique voice because it exemplifies the concise and straightforward writing style. The dialogue is minimalistic, and the scene descriptions are visually descriptive and action-oriented, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy. |
| Pattern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tone and Emotional Impact | There is a strong positive correlation between the tone and emotional impact scores, with higher tone scores more likely to correspond with higher emotional impact scores. |
| Dialogue and Conflict | Scenes with higher dialogue scores tend to also have higher conflict scores, suggesting that effective dialogue is often used to generate tension. |
| Concept and Plot | Scenes with higher concept scores tend to also have higher plot scores, suggesting that an engaging concept can often be required for a compelling plot. |
| High Stakes and Character Changes | Scenes with higher stakes scores tend to also have higher character change scores, indicating that significant character arcs may often be driven by high stakes events. |
| Trope | Trope Details | Trope Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Revenge plot | John seeks revenge after his car is stolen and his dog is killed. | A common trope where a character seeks vengeance for a wrong-doing against them or their loved ones. An example of this can be seen in the movie 'Kill Bill' where the main character, 'The Bride', seeks revenge against those who wronged her and tried to kill her on her wedding day. |
| Hero's Journey | John goes on a quest to avenge his dog's death and retrieve his stolen car. | A classic trope where the protagonist goes on a journey to overcome obstacles and achieve a goal. An example of this can be seen in the movie 'Star Wars: A New Hope' where Luke Skywalker embarks on a journey to save the galaxy and become a jedi. |
| Tragic back story | John is a retired boxer and military man who mourns the loss of his wife, and later his dog. | A trope where a character has a traumatic experience in their past that affects their present behavior. An example of this can be seen in the show 'Breaking Bad' where Walter White's tragic backstory and cancer diagnosis drive him to become a drug lord. |
| Final showdown | John engages in a final confrontation with Iosef on The Chayka. | A trope where the protagonist and antagonist have a climactic battle or confrontation to resolve the conflict. An example of this can be seen in the movie 'The Matrix' where Neo and Agent Smith have a final showdown to determine the fate of humanity. |
| Redemption arc | John seeks to return from his violent past as a hired killer and save Miko from being euthanized. | A trope where a character seeks redemption for their past actions or mistakes. An example of this can be seen in the show 'The Sopranos' where Tony Soprano seeks redemption for his criminal activities and tries to become a better person. |
| Scene Number | Line |
|---|---|
| 18 | John: My name is John Wick. You took my car. You killed my dog. Where is Iosef? |
| 27 | Viggo: Iosef... my son... is worth less than this... far less... treasures reduced to ash... |
| 28 | Viggo: For me to die like this...BECAUSE OF HIM...would be unfortunate. |
| 23 | John: Just because I'm good at killin'... doesn't mean I like it all that much. |
| 24 | Marcus: "It’s always 'just' something, John." |
| Array ( [0] => A retired hitman seeks revenge for the death of his dog and faces off against a powerful underworld figure's son. [1] => With a bounty on his head, a hitman battles for survival while targeting those who killed his dog. [2] => John Wick, a hitman on a mission for vengeance, takes on a host of assassins from the underground world. [3] => In the wake of a robbery that takes his canine companion, John Wick goes after those responsible and sets out to settle the score. [4] => After avenging the loss of his beloved dog and avoiding assassins, John seeks solace in saving a new four-legged friend and taking to the open road. ) |
| A retired assassin is forced back into the underworld he abandoned when sadistic gangsters steal his car and kill his dog, the last gift from his deceased wife. |
| Fueled by grief and rage, a legendary hitman unleashes his deadly skills on the Russian mob, navigating a hidden world of assassins with its own code of honor and brutal consequences. |
| When his only connection to his late wife is taken away, a former assassin seeks revenge, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake and challenging the established order of the criminal underworld. |
| John Wick, a man of focus, commitment, and sheer will, seeks vengeance for the death of his beloved dog, embarking on a relentless quest that pits him against the ruthless Russian mafia. |
| In the shadowy world of assassins, where loyalty is currency and violence is a language, one man defies the rules to avenge the loss of his cherished companion, becoming a legend in the process. |
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