Keanu Reeves blasts into theatres in John Wick

Fifteen years after donning theblack trench coat for the blockbuster TheMatrix,Keanu Reeves is back in black and armed to the teeth in the action thrillerJohn Wick.

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The Toronto-raised actor plays the eponymous role of a retired assassin forced to get back into the game after a Russian mobster (played by MichaelNyqvist)marks him for death.

But as Reevesrecently explained toCBC News what really sets Wick off is the home invasion killing of apuppy that was a gift from his recently deadwife.

"When that's taken away from him stomped and killedthis impulse to reclaim, which might be vengeance or revenge [is ignited]," explained Reeves.

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The film's dark and stylized action was co-directed by stunt experts, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, who worked with Reeves on The Matrix.

Eternal Hollywood bad guy, Willem Dafoe, and Game of Thrones actor Alfie Allen also star.

John Wick hits theatres across Canada on Friday.