Sicario 2: Soldado (15)

Though the original’s director (Denis Villeneuve) and leading lady (Emily Blunt) have departed, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are back.

While inevitably coming up short on its outstanding predecessor, this is a sequel that not only justifies its existence but works extremely well in its own right.

Every face-to-face discussion or confrontation is dripping with anger, sarcasm or dread; this is realistic – and essential – modern storytelling.

Del Toro was arguably the best performer in the first flick and steals the show once again. This follow-up is lacking the late Jóhann Jóhannsson’s masterful score, though, as Hildur Guðnadóttir’s music doesn’t register the same pulse-racing dread.