Disclaimer: This review contains no spoilers. In order for people to fully enjoy this film, it is better if I don't disclose key information.

Sicario is one of those films that even after going to see it, you’re still thinking about it two days later. The film leaves the audience with a sense of both dread and awe within the span of two hours. It’s as if No Country for Old Men (dir. Coen Brothers) and Zero Dark Thirty (dir. Kathryn Bigelow) were thrown together in a blender and its final fusion was Sicario. I hesitate to simply call it an “action film” because it was so much more than that.

As told in the entrance sequence of the film, Sicario in Mexico means, “hit-man.” Right at the beginning, the film is preparing the audience for what is to come. This is not a feel good movie to see during the weekend. Sicario manages to convey the level of violence and corruption still pervasive in Mexico due to its problems with drug cartels. I don’t want to give too much away because it is worth watching and the overall affect the film has works when you don’t go in knowing all that much.

It is a rough and gruesome story that leaves a bad taste in your mouth but in the most wonderful way that a film can do. Its effect on making the audience uncomfortable and weary was clearly a team effort with the directing, acting, music, and overall essence of the film.

This thrilling narco film has truly delivered in all ways possible. From the narrative to the incredible cinematography, Sicario proves to be possibly one of the best films of the year. The beat of the story was paralleled to incredible work of Johann Johannsson’s music score to the film.

Canadian director Denis Villenueve, also known for the film Prisoners and written by Taylor Sheridan, directed the film. It stars Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. Overall, these three actors delivered in performance that made it worthwhile and even credible to watch.

It is always gratifying to see an actor be cast out of their perpetual roles they seem to fall for every time or seem to be typecast into. This happened to Emily Blunt in Sicario. Blunt plays a young special agent named Kate who has to come to terms with morality of the system she serves. Her character best serves as the moral compass of the story. She is constantly asking the questions that the audiences' want to ask. Blunt’s best scenes usually came when she didn’t even have to say a word. Her best moments were through her facial expressions and reactions to events.

Although Blunt delivered one of her best performances of her career as of now, the show stealer came from del Toro’s stoic portrayal of Alejandro. This character was a mystery since the moment we meet him. I mean, come on, the first time we even catch a glimpse of this man is from Blunt’s character’s point of view and even then it is just at a quick glance. But make no mistake, although he’s a man of few words, you can’t help but feel the hairs on the back of your head stand up every time he comes on screen. Del Toro delivers a stunning performance and one that doesn’t need a lot of gimmicks to come off as menacing. It is subtle and superb to see on screen.

I also cannot stress enough how beautiful the cinematography of this film was. How strong and poignant it was for the director and cinematographer to utilize image to convey the shots of the border between the US and Mexico to fully portray the differences between the two as well as the overall essence of the film

This thrilling narco film has truly delivered in all ways possible. From the narrative to the incredible cinematography, Sicario proves to be possibly one of the best films of the year.

Overall verdict: A -

I’ll leave you with this powerful quote from the film:

You should move to a small town, somewhere the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and this is a land of wolves now.