With the Seventies swagger of a blaxploitation feature and a cast of ensemble killers packed with personality – The Continental comes to Prime Video this September with all guns blazing.
Following the franchise phenomenon of John Wick, this highly stylised return to that universe, overseen by Derek Kolstad, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski required lashings of tantalising backstory, backed up by tour deforce performances from an array of character actors.
With ample amounts of skin in the game and mad skills to back up some serious fire power – that is exactly what audiences get in this audacious exploration into the world prior to John Wick’s arrival. One populated by a young Winston Scott (Colin Woodell), a baby-faced Charon (Ayomide Adegun) and an over-bearing exemplar of everything nefarious in Cormac O’Connor (Mel Gibson).
Over the course of 3 feature length episodes, this Marriot for murderers reveals its inner workings, while viewers are cordially invited to experience Winston’s formative years alongside his brother Frankie (Ben Robson) – where crucial elements are explored in black and white flashbacks, giving The Continental a golden age Hollywood feel.
Expertly orchestrated needle drops are also implemented by music maestro Raffertie, perfectly combining crucial character moments with an effortless chic, that instantly elevating this series into the upper echelons of essential viewing. With conspicuous dialogue lifts from the John Wick franchise, which also maintain continuity across this universe The Continental consistently delivers on every level.
With everyone consumed by vengeance in one form or another, audiences should expect an explicit approach to bloodletting, as well as an endless degree of invention when it comes to dispatching the competition. Tag team assassins include Miles (Hubert Point-Du Jour) and Lou (Jessica Allain), alongside lone wolf Jenkins (Ray McKinnon) and loose cannon Lemmy (Adam Shapiro). Each bringing their own distinctive style to this mishmash mix tape of eclectic assassins.
If anybody can be blamed for lacking balls to the wall bombast in this guns and ammo extravaganza, it would be Mel Gibson. Who may chew his way through scenery with gusto, but beyond a moment of indulgent ultra-violence with golf clubs, lacks any sense of omnipotence in his position as hotel manager.
However, those niggles aside, an overriding revenge narrative gives The Continental enough emotional heft to get audiences jacked in for the long haul. Alongside outstanding turns from Colin Woodell as Winston, Katie McGrath’s Adjudicator, as well as the law enforcement tag team of KD (Mishel Prada) and Mayhew (Jeremy Bob) who consistently raise the bar in this spin-off show.
Not only adding narrative meet to the bones of this action-based franchise but demonstrating that The Continental has more to offer than copious amounts of gun-fu and solid gold currency.
The Continental: From The World Of John Wick premieres on Prime Video 22 September
