John Wick Cracked Out on Meth: Inside the Brutal World of 'Kick On'

The Brutal Genesis of 'Kick On'

There's a severed head on set, a childhood friend swinging fists in an elevator, and a director who wanted every drop of blood shot for real. In the world of cinema, where digital effects often overshadow practicality, Australian filmmaker Nick Kozakis is making his mark with a film that feels like it was pulled directly from the fever dreams of John Wick's more chaotic cousin—cracked out on meth, if you will.

"I wanted to kind of get in tight, personal with all of our characters," says Kozakis, drawing from his music video background. "Style can always overtake, but I refused to sacrifice actors' reactions and fear for spectacle."

This is not your average action-horror flick—Kozakis isn't content with just the visual chaos. He's committed to authenticity in a way that makes you question what you're watching. It's a visceral experience that feels like it was filmed with a camera strapped to someone's chest, pulsing with the rhythm of panic and adrenaline.

Real Stunts, Real Emotion

The film's production is a testament to Kozakis' commitment to realism. He leaned on real stunt performers rather than digital augmentation wherever possible—including casting his own childhood friend, who became a professional stuntman, as the film's doorman. It's a personal touch that adds emotional gravity to what could have been a purely spectacle-driven sequence.

"I can't unsee like you need to play this character," Kozakis recalls. "It's just like when he was doing the stunts in the previs, it's like I didn't want it to go to anybody else, you know?" This isn't just about flashy action—it's about building a human connection with the chaos.

Even prosthetics were carefully chosen. Larry Van Duynhoven, whose work includes Furiosa and Mortal Kombat, brought a head cast of actor Tyrone Ngatai onto set before destroying it for a head-trauma effect. The rawness of the practical elements adds an unfiltered emotional resonance that digital effects simply cannot replicate.

A Human Story Beneath the Carnage

Underneath the brutal surface, Kozakis has crafted something surprisingly nuanced. The film's emotional core lies in a single scene: Eden sitting with her younger sister, Gracie, in the hospital, then going out that same night because she doesn't know what else to do with her fear.

"It's a very humanized story and nothing's ever black and white," he explains. "I didn't want the film's young ensemble to read as 'young dumb kids that are just lambs to the slaughter.' We can care to scare."

This emotional grounding is what sets 'Kick On' apart from its peers. It's not about shock value alone—it's about how chance, fear, and familial trauma play out in real life. Each character's journey is shaped by a moment of decision, each one spiraling into something darker than intended.

Ray: A Broken Soul with Heart

One of the most compelling aspects of the film is Ray—a young man who's trying to break free from his toxic upbringing. Kozakis describes him as someone “never had a chance” against a father who was “overbearing” and expected him to follow in his footsteps.

"He's trying to be his own person, but you can just see that that doesn't exist," Kozakis says. "He was just born into this world of chaos and fear… and it's just a sad state of affairs for him."

Ray isn't a villain; he's a broken soul with heart, driven by pain and misunderstanding. It's a refreshing take on the anti-hero genre, one that makes you root for someone who would otherwise be dismissed as a reckless antagonist.

The Soundtrack to Chaos

Kozakis' experience directing over 100 music videos—including Tones and I's “Dance Monkey”—influenced the frenetic pacing of 'Kick On.' The shoot ran about 20 days and required 1,536 setups, which he calls “a psycho amount.” The result is a film that never lets up, a relentless journey through violence and emotion.

"The pace of music videos shaped the energy," Kozakis says. "You're always in the moment, and it's about capturing intensity in every frame." It's clear this approach pays off—every beat, every cut, every shot is designed to keep you on edge.

From Music Videos to Movies

This film is a bridge between his music video roots and cinematic ambition. Kozakis previously directed the psychological thriller 'Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism,' a low-stakes project that gave him room to experiment before applying those lessons at greater scale on 'Kick On.'

Now, he's moving on to 'Off the Boat,' a comedy with the Sooshi Mango team funded by Screen Australia. "I need to do some ethnic comedy, one because I'm Greek and it's something that speaks to me and situations that I grew up in," Kozakis says.

It's a fascinating evolution for a filmmaker who isn't afraid to go full-throttle when the story demands it. And with 'Kick On' under his belt, he's proving that he can handle the heavy stuff just as well as the lighter fare.

What's Next?

Kozakis' latest effort is already generating buzz at the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness lineup, where it makes its world premiere. The film's Australian and New Zealand theatrical release is handled by Umbrella Entertainment, while Blue Finch Films oversees global sales.

The film features an ensemble cast including Markella Kavenagh (known for Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) as Eden and Nikolai Nikolaeff as Ray. Jacek Koman, Ras-Samuel, Nikita Chronis, Kaitlyn Boyé, Julian Weeks, Thom Green, Ngatai, and Eddie Baroo round out a cast that brings both intensity and humanity to the screen.

So what can we expect from this director's next chapter? With 'Kick On' already proving his mettle in action-horror, one thing is certain—Nick Kozakis is not going anywhere anytime soon. He's got a story to tell, and he's not afraid to make you feel it.