Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario established itself as a powerful and realistic crime thriller, but its follow-up, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, released without Emily Blunt’s presence, struggled to replicate that impact. The absence of Blunt’s character, Kate Mercer, led to a loss of the grounded perspective that anchored the first film’s intense narrative along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Why Emily Blunt’s Character Was Central to Sicario’s Success
In the original Sicario, Emily Blunt plays Kate Mercer, an FBI agent enlisted to assist Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) and Matt (Josh Brolin) in disrupting drug cartels operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. Throughout the film, Kate serves as the audience’s lens, reacting in real time to the morally ambiguous and brutal world unfolding around her.
As the story progresses, Kate faces ethical uncertainties, particularly when Matt’s extreme tactics verge on violating international law and moral codes. The audience experiences these chaotic events alongside her, feeling disoriented and unsure about who to trust, much like Kate herself. This viewpoint creates tension and emotional investment, emphasizing the human cost of the violent conflict.
In contrast, Sicario: Day of the Soldado centers predominantly on Alejandro and Matt, with Alejandro’s character transforming into the protagonist. The sequel swaps Kate Mercer’s grounded, unsure perspective for high-octane action scenes filled with explosions and combat, but without a relatable moral anchor. This shift removes the audience’s ability to connect with the story on a personal level, leaving them immersed in a chaotic battlefield of cartel and terrorist conflicts rather than a character-driven drama.
Without Kate Mercer or a similarly grounded figure, the sequel loses the framing device that provided clarity amidst the moral chaos. As a result, Sicario: Day of the Soldado fails to evoke the same emotional depth and leaves viewers feeling disconnected from the complex human struggles that made the first film resonate.
How the Sequel Departed From the Original’s Realism and Emotional Depth
Sicario: Day of the Soldado opens by linking illegal immigration with terrorism, a storyline that could have offered meaningful tension but instead is undermined by an exaggerated bombing sequence. This shift to spectacle weakens the grounded tone that distinguished the original.
The first Sicario, co-written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by Denis Villeneuve, earned acclaim for its ultra-realistic portrayal of the U.S.-Mexico border conflict. The film maintained a tight focus on authentic characters and believable betrayals, including Kate Mercer’s slow unraveling of trust and her increasingly complicated role within the violent milieu.
The original also acknowledged the harsh realities of their mission — including the breaking of international treaties and the moral fallout that follows. Alejandro and Matt knowingly crossed ethical boundaries, creating a grim battlefield where the aftermath left only doubts and disillusionment. This blend of gritty action and moral complexity gave the film its lasting power.
In comparison, the sequel prioritizes grand action sequences over character-driven storytelling. Josh Brolin himself admitted that Sicario: Day of the Soldado lacked the soul and authentic atmosphere of the original, and that it missed the grounded sensation of being caught in the crossfire rather than orchestrating it. This absence leaves the sequel feeling more like an action movie without the nuanced storytelling that defined the Taylor Sheridan movie.
The Lasting Impact of Sheridan’s Original Sicario
Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario remains a benchmark for visceral, character-focused thrillers with a darkly realistic lens on crime and morality along a fraught border region. It is part of an unofficial American Frontier Trilogy alongside Hell or High Water and Wind River, all reflecting Sheridan’s interest in tense, complex stories rooted in escalating conflicts and human flaws.
While Sicario: Day of the Soldado sought to expand the original’s scope with bigger set pieces and a shift in protagonists, the exclusion of Emily Blunt’s Kate Mercer ultimately undercut the sequel’s ability to engage audiences emotionally. Without a morally anchored point of view, the sequel struggled to maintain the psychological complexity and somber tone that earned the original critical praise.
Both Sicario and its sequel are currently available to rent on Apple TV+ (USA), allowing viewers to revisit the contrasting approaches to storytelling in these films and understand why the original holds a more significant place in Taylor Sheridan’s filmography.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Taylor Sheridan quit acting?
A. The actor, who was about to become a parent for the first time, said his main reason for changing jobs was family life.
Q. How much did Taylor Sheridan pay for the 6666?
A. In 2022, he and some investors bought the famous 6666 Ranch for an impressive $320 million. Already known as a filming spot for Yellowstone, Taylor decided to use his business skills. He started renting it to Paramount for about $50,000 weekly.
