The young and somewhat inexperienced FBI Agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt), is recruited into a covert government task force, which has been formed to assist in the escalating war against drugs on the border between the United States and Mexico. Given very little information about the methods and eventual targets of the task force, she soon comes to the realisation that their means of doing things are extremely questionable and unorthodox. A widely favoured film that was originally released in 2015 and landed a sequel not long after that.

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers: Taylor Sheridan
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro

Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Taylor Sheridan, Sicario not only boasts some incredibly tense and suspenseful scenes, but also showcases beautiful cinematography and an equally impressive soundtrack. Some spectacular landscapes across the Mexican and United States border are highlighted throughout, along with some particularly effective drone shots. Various filming locations were used, with El Paso, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico being the more prominent locations on display.

Many aspects of Sicario manage to stand out, but one of the most impressive would have to be the dark and sinister atmosphere that the filmmakers manage to maintain throughout the one-hundred and twenty-one minute runtime. There are some genuinely gripping moments throughout, with the tension gradually building as the story progresses. The soundtrack also works particularly well, with its almost menacing nature helping to fuel the atmosphere and, at times, feeling almost like a character in itself.

The sensitive subject matter surrounding the Mexican drug cartels is also handled particularly well, with the filmmakers taking a stylish and relatively realistic approach without relying too heavily on excessive action. The picture manages to maintain a serious tone while still providing some well-executed action sequences, helping to keep the story engaging throughout. The success of Sicario eventually led to a sequel, Sicario 2 (2018), which was released in 2018.

In terms of the cast, Emily Blunt adopted the role of the inexperienced FBI Agent, Kate Macer, while Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro also appear in strong support roles, portraying Matt Graver and Alejandro, respectively. The character of Alejandro didn’t bring much to the table in regard to charisma, but it certainly did bring an air of mystery that slowly unravelled as the film wore on, leading to a near perfect final act involving the character.

All in all, the strong clinical story, cinematography, soundtrack and acting performances, must place Sicario up there as one of the most appealing thrillers to have been released in the last few years. If you’re sustainable to a less than conventional police thriller with an extremely tense and suspenseful atmosphere, then I’d certainly recommend this one.

“Time to meet God.”

Alejandro – Sicario