An uneasy and tense thriller, rendered in shades of grey.

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2018)

There's an underlying seediness to 'Sicario (2015)', an unseen sense of evil that strengthens with each scene that blurs the line between 'good' and 'bad'. This is amplified by every aspect of the production, from the astute and assured direction to the earthy and understated screenplay, which leads to an experience steeped in tension and weight, one that communicates just as much through its fantastically framed vistas as it does through its brief but frenetic violence. It's a slow burn of a thriller, one that doesn't culminate in a massive action set-piece but rather a demolition of what you previously understood was going on - in terms of plot, morality and, especially, character. After a an act of pure brutality finally pulls back the curtain on a previously mysterious character - and, by extension, a certain way of thinking - in an unexpected and gut-wrenching way, all preconceptions fall away and you realise just how dark the narrative really is. The movie's haunting end implies devastating consequences for those on the ground-level of this ever escalating war on drugs. The movie doesn't give you any easy answers and makes you question everything you see the supposed 'good guys' do, soon shedding any suggestion of such a thing even existing. If you don't think you're doing the right thing, though, then how can you do it? It is a phenomenally deep question and one that resides in the heart of our protagonist and the overall piece. It's these shades of grey that really make the movie so compelling and ripe for discussion. It aims to start a conversation and can easily do so. Most importantly, it's an engaging and impactful experience. It will get under your skin and, almost certainly, truly affect you, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout, sometimes unnerved but always unable to look away. 8/10