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Basil Iwanyk and Derek Kolstad’s action thriller franchise John Wick follows the assassin known by the Russian criminal underworld as Baba Yaga, John Wick’s nickname, which supposedly means boogeyman. The first installment in the franchise followed the assassin (played by Keanu Reeves) as he comes out of retirement to take revenge on the men who have killed his dog. Daisy, the dog, was an unexpected final gift from John’s late wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan) — and the entire underworld is terrified at the mere prospect of the “Baba Yaga” returning.
By killing Daisy, the assassins trigger John’s rage-fuelled revenge spree across the trilogy, which will continue in John and Bowery King’s (Laurence Fishburne) fight against the High Table in John Wick 4. Throughout John Wick, Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin is described in mythic terms. He lurks behind shadows and appears when he must seek revenge for the wrongdoings of others, with every weapon John Wick uses further cementing his legendary reputation. Ultimately, his past gave him the nickname, but what does John Wick’s Baba Yaga nickname mean, really?
The Russian Witch Named Baba Yaga
The John Wick franchise is actually wrong about Baba Yaga being the “Russian boogeyman.” This has been a source of confusion for people who are familiar with the name, as well as fans who dedicate time to understanding a beloved character’s backstory. Baba Yaga’s roots and origins in Russian folklore create an even deeper meaning to John Wick, which makes it surprising that the franchise was not as attentive to this detail to strengthen the story.
Baba Yaga is not the “Russian boogeyman” at all, she is a different being altogether. That said, considering John Wick’s kill count, the Baba Yaga is not that different from the modern-day assassin. In Russian folklore, she is a witch who lives in a disheveled home that stands on chicken legs. Similar to the Brothers Grimm tale of the witch in Hansel And Gretel (1812), Baba Yaga lures children into her home to devour them. She surrounds her home with the human remains of her victims. Baba Yaga has been mythologized as living in this world and the next, appearing anywhere at will without warning — just like John.
The Baba Yaga John Wick Nickname Is Part Of The Franchise’s Success
If John Wick’s nickname was truly referential to the boogeyman, he would be called a Babay. The term translates to “a boogeyman,” not a particular individual, but one of many. Moreover, Baba Yaga is a nickname that might be better suited for a member of John Wick‘s High Table — someone with the personality and influence that actually matches that of the Russian witch.
In fact, save for their penchant for murder, John Wick does not share any other similarity with Baba Yaga – he is not malevolent nor does he seek to harm the innocent. On the contrary, he wants revenge on those who have done wrong. On the other hand, perhaps there is more to his story than viewers know – more of which will be further revealed in John Wick 4. Until then, the use of Baba Yaga in the John Wick franchise is confusing and a bit unnerving if his character is based primarily on his nickname.
Despite these problems with Baba Yaga, John Wick’s misnomer of a nickname, the fact is that its part of what makes the John Wick franchise successful. Indeed, John Wick’s nickname is a four-syllable story on its own, directly connected to the affairs of the Continental, the Russian mob, and the existence of the High Table. These elements come together to provide the distinct vibe and concrete lore that differentiate John Wick from any other action movie franchise in recent history.
As John Wick franchise creator and screenwriter Derek Kolstad explained (via Bulletproof Screenwriting), “what’s been great in developing John Wick, too, is we love John Wick, you know, I mean, he was the Baba Yaga. He was the devil. And there may be a bit of that still inside of him. But there’s something about that you love, you know.”
Though John Wick might be the most famous character associated with Baba Yaga, she has long lingered in the zeitgeist. For instance, Baba Yaga is the primary inspiration for The Witcher’s Deathless Mother, also known as Voleth Meir. Not only did Voleth Meir’s hut have basilisk legs – similar to Baba Yaga’s chicken-legged house — the incantation to get into Voleth Meir’s hut is also the same as the one for finding Baba Yaga’s. Another version of Baba Yaga also exists in The Witcher video games.
Meanwhile, in the 2019 Hellboy reboot, the main antagonist is an extremely horrifying version of Baba Yaga that is much closer to the Russian myth — a twisted spirit that commands ancient magics and manipulates others for her own malevolent ends. Baba Yaga’s influence can even be traced back to the seminal Dragon Ball saga, particularly through Master Roshi’s sister Fortuneteller Baba Saga, who is loosely based on the mythic witch. While these interpretations are much more faithful to the real Baba Yaga, the fact is that, today, John Wick is practically synonymous with the name.
John Wick 4 needs to follow through and reveal more about what the titular assassin has done that warranted such a fearful nickname. Even though John’s thirst for revenge isn’t exactly a sign of good character, it’s scarcely enough to justify dubbing him the Baba Yaga of the Slavic criminal underworld. Promisingly, it would seem that the franchise is headed towards a much darker story based on the John Wick 4 teaser. Depending on what the John Wick 4 plot reveals about John’s past, maybe he could be exactly like Baba Yaga after all.
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