Ballerina (2025) Review: Vengeance in Choreographed Chaos

Ballerina takes place in the shadowy universe of the John Wick franchise, following Eve, a young assassin trained in ballet and brutality, as she hunts those responsible for murdering her family. Seeking revenge, she navigates a labyrinth of underworld alliances and betrayals. With elegant violence and atmospheric dread, the film spins a tale of vengeance through choreographed carnage and fleeting moments of introspection.

While Ballerina explores grief and trauma, its approach—fueled by vengeance—runs counter to the redemptive ethic of the gospel. Eve’s journey, though driven by personal loss, lacks the moral reckoning seen in biblical narratives of justice. Scripture warns us against returning evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). Here, violence begets more violence, and little space is given to grace, forgiveness, or repentance. Christian viewers may find the film’s visual poetry at odds with its spiritual emptiness. The stylized brutality may numb rather than convict, offering catharsis without transformation.

Len Wiseman delivers a visually striking but narratively thin installment in the John Wick universe. The story unfolds more as a sequence of brutal ballets than a coherent plot, often sacrificing emotional depth for style. The pacing is relentless, yet the dialogue is sparse and often uninspired. Moments that should carry weight—like Eve confronting her enemies—lack tension due to contrived choices by the antagonists, undermining believability. The film attempts gravitas but fails to earn it through storytelling.

Ana de Armas brings grace and physical commitment to the role, but she struggles to sell the intensity and grit needed to embody a convincing action assassin. Unlike other performers who have fully owned similar roles with commanding presence and raw emotional authenticity, her portrayal of Eve often feels overly choreographed and detached. The result is a character who appears poised but emotionally distant, making her grief and rage feel hollow. Ironically, the film's most resonant moment comes when John Wick (Keanu Reeves) briefly appears—offering a stoic charisma and moral tension that Eve never fully achieves. Most supporting characters orbit Eve's journey with little development, and the script gives them too little room to grow or deepen the story's emotional stakes.

This is not a family film. The violence is frequent and intense, with stylized kills and graphic combat. For adult Christian viewers, the film may prompt reflection on justice and grief, but it offers little in terms of hope or redemptive takeaway. Teen and younger audiences should avoid due to content and thematic darkness.