John Wick Experience review – Going Excommunicado at thrilling immersive show | Films | Entertainment

Keanu Reeves’ hit action movie franchise is six films and counting, expanding the world of John Wick into spin-offs, video games and beyond. One of the reasons the series is so successful and continues to connect with audiences is its incredible world-building.

The assassins’ underworld, with its gentlemanly rules, ancient codes of conduct, and untraceable gold-coin currency, opens up a world of style and mystique. In every major city across the globe is a Continental hotel, where hitmen can stay without fear of business being conducted on Continental grounds. Now, an official John Wick Experience allows fans to enter one themselves, taking on the role of an assassin who has been declared excommunicado alongside John Wick himself.

In the John Wick films, we’ve peeked inside not just the New York City Continental, but also the assassin hotels in Rome, Casablanca, Osaka and Prague. What’s particularly fun about the John Wick Experience is that it takes place at the Las Vegas Continental, located at Area15 just off the Strip.

Even before entering the venue, a bouncer was already in character at the door, welcoming myself and my companion into the hotel’s reception. Inside we were met by an amusingly dry concierge, who booked us in as VIPs with a souvenir underworld coin to take home.

From the off, it was clear the John Wick Experience had extremely high standard Hollywood style sets, a far cry from the temporary immersive shows I’ve experienced in London. The only one I can think of that gets anywhere close is the excellent Secret Cinema, which works with studios to bring the worlds of major franchises to life.

Beyond the reception, we were ushered into the Las Vegas Continental’s stylish bar. Choosing a signature cocktail called the Elder, the barman put on quite the flaming performance mixing it together for me. After slurping down our drinks, it was time to head to the elevator, where the operator welcomed us in and gave us the low-down on our mission. Without going into too much detail, what followed was a cinematic journey throughout the hotel, with state-of-the-art special effects and actors playing various members of staff aiding you through the venue while being “excommunicado” ie banished and being hunted by fellow assassins.

What was particularly special was how this wasn’t just a generic Continental, but one very much in keeping with the Vegas location. The manager welcomed us into his office, sporting a cowboy hat and playing on his one-armed bandit. There’s even a classic casino section where you get to bet against those in your group.

Some spaces were mini escape rooms, others involved virtual gun fights and Disney theme park-level thrills, while being hunted by yo,ur fellow assassins. I’ve done a ton of immersive experiences, and this is by far one of the best and is well worth checking out when visiting Las Vegas. Now if only Winston could be persuaded to open the London Continental across the pond?

The John Wick Experience Las Vegas can be booked here.