# “Ballerina” Review: Ana de Armas Dances with Death in a Vicious, Vengeful Spin-Off That Hits Its Mark

- Link: https://exclusiveaccess.net/ballerina-review-ana-de-armas-dances-with-death-in-a-vicious-vengeful-spin-off-that-hits-its-mark/
- Published: 2025-06-06T16:12:27-04:00
- Author: EAN

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Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina. Photo Credit: Murray Close

Stepping into the brutal, bullet-riddled world of John Wick is no small feat. It’s
a cinematic universe defined by choreographed carnage, high-stakes codes of honor,
and the lingering shadow of Keanu Reeves’ iconic hitman. Many have tried to match
the energy and innovation that made Wick a genre-defining franchise — and few have
succeeded. (The Continental, anyone?)

Enter Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro — a fierce, vengeance-fueled orphan with a mission
and nothing to lose. In Ballerina, she doesn’t just survive the underworld of the
High Table… she owns it. With a performance that blends grit, pain, and precision,
de Armas brings real fire to the screen. She’s not a mere imitator of Reeves’ stoic
antihero — she’s something entirely her own: explosive, agile, and emotionally layered.

We’ve known de Armas could lead since Knives Out, and she’s shown flashes of action
prowess before. But in Ballerina, she proves without a doubt that she’s built for
this universe. Her combat sequences are savage and elegant, her rage simmering beneath
every controlled movement. She’s dangerous, haunted, and human — the kind of assassin
this world desperately needs to keep the blood-stained legacy alive.

Bottom line: Ballerina doesn’t just earn its place in the John Wick saga — it reminds
us why this universe still has plenty of moves left.