John Woo Returns to Hollywood with 'Silent Night'

The film, featuring virtually no dialogue, marks a departure from Woo's signature style, exploring gritty realism and the protagonist's transformation into a killer.

John Woo's latest film, 'Silent Night', marks his return to Hollywood after a 15-year absence. The film is a departure from Woo's signature 'heroic bloodshed' style, featuring a more gritty and realistic approach to action.
The film's protagonist, Brian Godlock (played by Joel Kinnaman), is a man seeking revenge for the death of his son. After being shot in the throat, Godlock loses his ability to speak, leading to a film with virtually no dialogue.
Despite the lack of dialogue, Woo uses visual storytelling and sound to convey the narrative. The film also explores the protagonist's grief and his transformation into a killer, with half the film dedicated to his self-training.
Although the film contains intense and elaborately choreographed action sequences, they are never as ecstatic as Woo's previous work. The film's violence is portrayed as garish and nightmarish, contrasting with the aspirational quality of mayhem in Woo's earlier films.
John Woo has expressed interest in making a sequel to his 1997 film 'Face/Off' with two female leads, although the studio has not shown interest in this idea.