If you don’t already know what Sicario means, you’re in for quite a ride. Those aware of its meaning can probably figure out the mystery early on in the film, but will still have a blast. It’s a win-win and a demonstration of deeply awesome filmmaking. The excitement levels of Blade Runner 2 being directed by Villeneuve and shot by Deakins have now increased tenfold.

Watch Sicario to experience the thrill and angst of the drug war. With nuances of cartel operation, corruption, brutality and morals dealt with realistically, Sicario presents itself as a neatly wrapped gift to all who can dare to open this Pandora’s box.

In Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario (Mexican slang for hitman), Del Toro plays Escobar’s ghost. Taylor Sheridan’s screenplay tries to imagine what it would be like if Escobar re-entered a game whose power centre has moved to the borders of the US. What might the Colombian, who died in a shootout in 1993, and whose Medellin cartel self-destructed soon after, make of the levels of brutality in Mexico that exceed the imaginations of the most lurid-minded scriptwriters?

At the end of the day, it’s the fascinating and cohesive storyline packaged with brilliant cinematography that make Sicario an appropriate film to reign in the upcoming Oscar season.