Sicario: Day of the Soldado | Discussion & Review | Film Club YouTube · The A.V. Club Key Themes and Stylistic Shifts

Graver enlists the help of the mysterious and lethal Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) to kidnap Isabela Reyes (Isabela Merced), the teenage daughter of a major drug kingpin, and frame a rival cartel for the act.

(2018) is an American action crime thriller that serves as a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2015 film Sicario . Directed by Stefano Sollima and written by Taylor Sheridan, the film shifts the focus from the war on drugs to human trafficking and domestic terrorism. Core Premise and Plot

The story begins after a suicide bombing in Kansas City is linked to Mexican cartels smuggling terrorists across the U.S. border.

The U.S. government tasks CIA operative Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) with inciting a war between rival cartels to disrupt their operations.

Critics and viewers alike have debated whether this sequel lives up to the original's legacy, highlighting its intense action and shifts in character development: Sicario 2: Soldado reviewed by Mark Kermode YouTube · kermodeandmayo "Sicario: Day Of The Soldado" review by Justin Chang YouTube · Los Angeles Times Sicario: Day of the Soldado - Movie Review YouTube · Chris Stuckmann

The operation goes awry when the Mexican government discovers the American involvement. Graver is ordered to "clean up" the situation by eliminating Isabela and Alejandro, leading to a rift between the two longtime partners as Alejandro refuses to kill the girl.