I spy a tricky plot in town

action seem reminiscent of John Wick then that’s because the co-director of that hit 2014 flick – David Leitch – is behind the camera here, branching out on his own for the first time and leaving Chad Stahelski to helm Wicks 2 and 3.

Like his previous movie, former stunt coordinator Leitch has a whale of a time coming up with ways to crunch bones and leave people laying.

His action set-pieces peak with a stunning sequence that sees Lorraine take out half a dozen goons in a lengthy single-take shot with no musical score that smoothly segues from a four-storey building to on-the-road mayhem before ending up in a river.

The director also seems to enjoy utilising the late-eighties setting with pulpy visuals, including spray-painted title cards, and a terrific soundtrack of the era.

A fittingly chilly-looking desaturated colour palette features heavily – right down to Lorraine’s monochrome fashion sense – but Leitch throws in the odd burst of neon lighting.

The supporting cast can’t help but fall into Theron’s shadow, though, with James McAvoy’s scruffy, chain-smoking skinhead showing some roguish charm but feeling sidelined, and Sofia Boutella (Delphine) coming across as little more than eye candy.

Following on from Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Theron delivers another action heroine breaking down walls and going toe-to-toe with the best of them that we want to see more of.

It’s just a pity she’s hindered by uneven plotting and one twist too many.