@hbenthow 1 year later....
After your hint on Sunday, I remembered to get around to watching it, but couldn't find the time until tonight.
It definitely shares some similarities to "John Wick", although there are major differences as well.
Both movies feature a plotline in which a young punk has a run-in with the protagonist, then kills the protagonists' dog (who was given to him by his now-dead wife in both movies) out of spite, after which the consequences of the original deed pile up more and more as the punk's father tries to protect him from justice as the protagonist constantly refuses to let the matter go.
Beyond that, though, there's very little in common. "Red" is pretty realistic, and feels like something that could really happen in a sleepy Southern town (while John Wick is essentially a fantasy set in an alternate universe in which there are super-assassins hiding in plain sight on nearly every street). Unlike John Wick, Brian Cox's Avery Ludlow is dogged but peaceful in his pursuit of justice, pursuing every legal option and repeatedly asking everyone involved (including the culprit, his accomplices, and his father) to do the right thing. It's them, not him, who cause the escalation to violence, and he only resorts to violence in self-defense (and feels guilty for it even then). It's not an action movie, but more of a slow-burn drama/thriller with a philosophical edge.
I wouldn't be surprised if the makers of "John Wick" borrowed the premise from "Red" (or the book of the same name by horror legend Jack Ketchum upon which it was based). There are enough similarities that I can see where they might have been inspired by it, but it's also possible that it's just a coincidence. Overall, I'd recommend it. It's very well-done, but don't expect a fast pace or a lot of action. It's a very different take on the same basic concept.