The Equalizer (2014) — a spiritual precursor to John Wick

“The Equalizer” (2014) offers a thrilling experience right from the start. Having recently watched the opening video of “Equalizer 3,” my interest in the series was already piqued. Of course, the movie benefits greatly from the charm and star power of Denzel Washington, who delivers a stellar performance as always.

In this genre, the plot is often predictable even before the movie begins. The challenge for the filmmakers is to keep the audience engaged, and they largely succeed in doing so. They usually achieve this by developing deep and interesting characters, delivering high-quality action sequences, and making the film’s world feel believable, even when dealing with bizarre or unrealistic events. It’s safe to say, in this case, they hit the mark on most of these fronts.

Nostalgia kicks in when you see Sony Vaio computers and non-Apple phones on screen, a stark contrast to today’s predominance of Apple products in films. A pleasant surprise in the movie is seeing David Harbour in a younger and much fitter version than the one we know from the “Stranger Things” series.

“The Equalizer” feels like a spiritual precursor to the John Wick character, where circumstances awaken a sleeping giant and then there is no looking back. However, despite an extensive final showdown, the movie didn’t quite deliver the expected payoff in the clash between the lead character and the main antagonist.

Nevertheless, “The Equalizer” is an overall entertaining watch. Denzel Washington’s performance is a standout, as he effortlessly transitions between giving a ‘warm, friendly neighbor’ vibe when he smiles and a menacing, ‘no-nonsense covert operative’ vibe the next instant.