Every person who has watched a John Wick movie has thought They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog. It is the last straw that pushes him down a path the bad guys are not going to enjoy.
This book itself goes down two paths. The first third is an almost scholarly look into the history of action films from 1903’s The Great Train Robbery forward. Next, it looks at how the John Wick saga reached the screen and moves onto the soundstage of the movies to show us a backstage viewpoint.
They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog is a detailed and worshipful tribute to film making and the John Wick movies. It is also a love letter to Keanu Reeves. I think fans of any one of the three will love this book. Though it is a bit scholarly at times, the pacing keeps the book from dragging. The interviews of so many different film experts and people involved directly with the films provide a multi-faceted perspective. 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.