Iosef Tarasov was a gangster and the son of crimelord Viggo Tarasov, leader of the Tarasov Mob. During a home invasion he murders the dog of John Wick, unbeknownst to him a legendary hitman who used to work for his father. This leads to John coming out of retirement to take revenge.
History
Iosef begins his involvement in John Wick's story by meeting him at a gas station; Tarasov admires Wick's car (a Mustang 69), banging on the hood before ignorantly asking how much he wanted for it. John states that the vehicle isn't for sale, to which Iosef responds in Russian, "Everything's got a price, bitch". Upon hearing John's response (similarly in Russian), "Not this bitch", Iosef seemingly becomes irritated, leaning into the car before being pulled away by his friend.
Iosef and his crew proceed to break into John's house in the dead of night, stealing his Mustang and killing the dog left for him by his wife, thereby setting in motion the events that would follow, his own death included.
John Wick's car is brought to Aurelio who questions Iosef about who and where he stole it from. Iosef is oblivious to the danger he is currently faced with and does not hesitate to mock Aurelio, stating that the Tarasov Mob owns his company. Aurelio asks Iosef whether or not he killed John before punching him in the face upon hearing that they had not only left him alive, but also given him reasons to come after them. Aurelio demands that they leave his shop - Iosef complies, but not before threatening him.
Iosef later meets his father Viggo in the gang's HQ; Viggo, aware of the danger that his son has put himself in, offers him a drink before gut-punching it back out of him, forcing him to clean it up and informing him of his mistakes. Iosef is visibly intimidated but still claims that he is able to rectify his errors by finishing what he started, leading to the second raid on John's house.
At the Red Circle club, Iosef and his friends party in a hot tub before another hitman arrives to serve as his bodyguard. Iosef states that despite the imminent threat, he is not afraid of "the Boogeyman". The hitman reminds him that he should be, a statement that is proved to be true by Wick himself as he bursts into the club, forcing Iosef to flee and thereby revealing his fear. He escapes the club in nothing but a bath towel, phoning Viktor only to be answered by John, who reminds him of his previous statement, "Everything's got a price".
After his escape from the club, Iosef becomes paranoid and holes up in the Tarasov safehouse which John proceeds to raid; Iosef is cornered, shot in the chest and then in the head, the second bullet following his last words in Russian, "It was just a fucking-".
Skills
As the pampered heir to the Tarasov fortune, Iosef has little combat training, never once fighting fairly but rather picking on those that he can (such as a prone John Wick during the Break-In). His fear also becomes evident during combat situations, using a bystander as a human shield while fleeing the Red Circle Club.
Gallery
Notes and Trivia
This character does not have any notes or trivia listed.
References