Sicario

FBI agents Kate Macer and Reggie Wayne execute a high-stakes raid on a suspected Mexican cartel safe-house in Chandler, Arizona. The raid reveals numerous decaying corpses and a deadly booby trap that results in the tragic deaths of two policemen, leaving a lasting impact on Kate and Reggie.

After the raid, Kate is recommended for a special task force led by Matt Graver and the enigmatic Alejandro Gillick. With a mission to capture Manuel Díaz, a lieutenant of the Sonora Cartel, Kate eagerly joins the team, believing in their capacity to bring justice.

The task force travels to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where they plan to extradite Guillermo Díaz, Manuel's brother. Tensions rise as they engage in a preemptive strike, killing several suspected cartel gunmen, shocking Kate with the brutal methods employed by her team.

As pressure mounts, Alejandro resorts to extreme measures by torturing Guillermo Díaz to reveal key information about a drug smuggling tunnel. This morally questionable tactic further disturbs Kate and Reggie, prompting them to question the legitimacy of their mission.

As the operation unfolds, both Kate and Reggie begin to realize that the true objective of the mission is not simply to capture Manuel Díaz, but to dismantle his entire drug operation. They discover that the plan involves luring Díaz back to Mexico to face his boss, Fausto Alarcón.

In an effort to disrupt Díaz’s finances, the team conducts a raid on a bank linked to his money laundering operations. However, their hopes of building a solid legal case shatter when they receive orders to drop the evidence they had gathered, leaving Kate and Reggie frustrated and confused.

During a night out, Reggie introduces Kate to Ted, his friend who is also a police officer in Phoenix. Their connection quickly escalates into passion, but Kate soon uncovers the disturbing truth about Ted's ties to the cartel, leading to a precarious situation.

An explosive confrontation breaks out between Kate and Ted when Alejandro intervenes. Ted is subdued and coerced into revealing names of corrupt officers connected to Díaz, highlighting the deep-rooted corruption within their law enforcement.

As the operation progresses, they receive news that Manuel Díaz is being recalled to Mexico. Kate expresses concern over the lack of jurisdiction, while Matt reveals that they are mere tools in a larger operation, emphasizing the intricacies of U.S. and cartel relations.

Despite knowing the risks, Kate insists on participating in a raid of the cartel's tunnel to uncover the truth behind the operation. At the tunnel's Mexican entrance, she witnesses Alejandro abducting a corrupt police officer, leading to a crucial moment of realization.

When Kate tries to arrest Alejandro for his illegal actions, he retaliates by firing at her vest, showcasing his disregard for the law. Alejandro then escapes with the officer, solidifying Kate's understanding that their mission is ultimately about exploitation rather than justice.

Kate confronts Matt about the mission's true intentions and is met with the shocking revelation that their goal is to restore a drug trade monopoly, mirroring past operations like the Medellín cartel. Matt's words challenge Kate's beliefs about justice and legality.

Alejandro embarks on a personal mission against Fausto Alarcón, motivated by the murder of his family. He forcefully extracts a ride to Díaz from Silvio, displaying a ruthless determination that starkly contrasts Kate's ideals.

The confrontation culminates in a brutal scene at Fausto Alarcón's estate, where Alejandro eliminates both Díaz and his family. This violent resolution echoes the film's larger themes of morality and justice, leaving Kate to grapple with the consequences.

In a tense final encounter, Alejandro visits Kate in her apartment, compelling her at gunpoint to sign a waiver that legitimizes their operation. She faces a moral dilemma as she refrains from pulling the trigger, leaving her fate hanging in the balance amidst the chaos around her.