Sicario is Spanish for hitman. In this case a euphemism for an idealistic FBI agent (Blunt) sent over the Mexican border by the CIA with the help of a covert operative (Brolin) and a morally ambiguous mercenary (Del Toro) to track down a drug lord that she has no hope of pinning down stateside.

Every grubby facet of the harsh, frequently violent, modern situation in the cartel drug wars is explored along the way – a morally ambigious journey that forces her to question everything that she believes in order to survive.

Twelve months ago I would probably have laughed if anyone had told me to go and see an action-thriller starring Emily Blunt, but last year’s excellent Edge of Tomorrow has changed that perception entirely.

Teaming with French-Canadian ‘it’ director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Incendies), who has recently carved a name for himself by reinvigorating Hollywood’s tired notion of dark, gritty thrillers, legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins and a first rate supporting cast, Blunt further adds to that new niche on her resume with Sicario. Imagine Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs dropped into one of Michael Mann’s better crime thrillers.

Backed by great reviews out of Cannes, this is not one to miss.