If you’re a fan of Yellowstone, you’ve undoubtedly fallen in love with the complex Dutton family, their gripping struggles, and Taylor Sheridan’s masterful storytelling. But did you know that two years before he brought the Duttons to life on the small screen, Sheridan wrote a movie that shares many themes and motifs with the beloved series? It’s a film that holds the same gritty, heart-wrenching atmosphere of Yellowstone, with a similarly intense exploration of family loyalty, land, and power struggles. The movie? Sicario.
Let’s dive into why every Yellowstone fan should watch Sicario, and how it connects to the very essence of the Dutton family saga.
H1: Taylor Sheridan’s Sicario – A Precursor to Yellowstone’s Gritty World
Before he created the hit series Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan already established himself as a powerful voice in Hollywood through his writing. In 2015, he penned the screenplay for Sicario, a film directed by Denis Villeneuve that explores the perilous world of drug cartels, government agencies, and the thin line between law and chaos. Although the setting of Sicario is far removed from the vast landscapes of Montana, the themes of moral ambiguity, power, and loyalty echo strongly within the world of the Duttons.
H2: The Themes That Connect Sicario to Yellowstone
Both Sicario and Yellowstone revolve around individuals who are navigating a morally complex world. In Sicario, the characters are faced with difficult choices as they confront corruption, violence, and the breakdown of legal systems. Similarly, in Yellowstone, the Duttons are forced to protect their ranch at all costs, even if it means bending or breaking the law.
Sheridan’s fascination with exploring the gray areas of morality is evident in both projects. The characters in Sicario – like those in Yellowstone – often struggle with the balance between right and wrong, and the consequences of their choices can be devastating.
H3: Sicario’s Powerful Lead – A Woman in a Man’s World
One of the standout aspects of Sicario is the character of Kate Macer, played by Emily Blunt. A strong-willed FBI agent, Kate is thrust into a male-dominated world of drug cartel warfare, much like how Yellowstone often highlights the strength and resilience of female characters such as Beth Dutton. Both Kate and Beth navigate violent, patriarchal systems where they must fight for respect and survival, often making decisions that challenge their own moral compass.
H4: The Raw and Real Landscape of Sicario vs. Yellowstone
While Sicario is set against the stark, desolate borderlands between the U.S. and Mexico, the sweeping Montana ranch lands in Yellowstone similarly become a character in their own right. Both films and the TV series showcase the brutality and beauty of their landscapes, emphasizing the emotional weight carried by the characters’ connections to the land. The environments in both Sicario and Yellowstone are as much a source of tension as the characters themselves, highlighting the fight for control over territory and the lengths to which people will go to protect it.
H2: Taylor Sheridan’s Signature Style – Grit, Tension, and Emotion
A hallmark of Sheridan’s writing is his ability to create tension through the smallest of interactions. Whether it’s the subtle power struggle between cartel members in Sicario or the fraught negotiations between the Dutton family and developers in Yellowstone, Sheridan is a master of weaving intricate character dynamics that keep the audience on edge. Both Sicario and Yellowstone are laden with raw, emotional moments that force viewers to reflect on the human cost of the characters’ decisions.
H3: Sicario and Yellowstone: The Power of Loyalty and Family
At the heart of both Sicario and Yellowstone lies the theme of loyalty. In Sicario, the characters are bound by their allegiance to the cause, whether it’s the DEA, the FBI, or the cartels themselves. In Yellowstone, loyalty is centered around the Dutton family and their ranch. Both works emphasize how loyalty can lead to personal sacrifice, and often, betrayal.
H4: Complex Villains: Power and Corruption in Both Worlds
Another connection between Sicario and Yellowstone is the portrayal of morally complex villains. In Sicario, Alejandro (played by Benicio del Toro) and the drug cartels are central to the plot, while in Yellowstone, characters like Thomas Rainwater, Dan Jenkins, and even Jamie Dutton embody the ruthless pursuit of power. These antagonists share an unyielding drive for control and are not easily categorized as pure evil. Instead, they are products of their circumstances, making their motivations more relatable and, in some cases, more terrifying.
H2: Sicario’s Impact on Taylor Sheridan’s Future Projects
After Sicario, Taylor Sheridan’s career took off, and he went on to create more projects that explore similar themes of morality, loyalty, and family. Hell or High Water (2016) and Wind River (2017) followed in the footsteps of Sicario, combining hard-hitting drama with a deep understanding of human nature. Sheridan’s unique storytelling style became more refined with each project, culminating in Yellowstone, which brought his exploration of family, land, and power struggles to the forefront of modern television.
H3: Sicario as the Perfect Precursor to Yellowstone
If you’re a fan of Yellowstone, watching Sicario is a must. The film’s grim tone, powerful character development, and exploration of violence and corruption will resonate with fans of the Dutton family saga. While Sicario is set in a different world, it’s easy to see how Sheridan’s experiences writing it laid the groundwork for the intense, morally complex world of Yellowstone.
H4: Conclusion: A Must-Watch for Yellowstone Fans
Two years before Yellowstone debuted, Taylor Sheridan wrote a movie that captures many of the same themes and narrative threads that would later define the Dutton family saga. Sicario offers a thrilling look into a dangerous world where the line between right and wrong is often blurred. If you’ve been captivated by the world of Yellowstone, Sicario will give you even more insight into Sheridan’s storytelling prowess and his unique approach to characters who are forced to make difficult choices in a corrupt, unpredictable world.
FAQs:
1. How is Sicario related to Yellowstone? Both share similar themes of loyalty, power struggles, and the consequences of decisions made within morally complex environments. Taylor Sheridan’s writing style is evident in both.
2. Is Sicario a good movie for fans of Yellowstone? Absolutely! Fans of Yellowstone will appreciate the gritty, emotionally charged storytelling and intense character development in Sicario.
3. Who are the main characters in Sicario? The main characters in Sicario are Kate Macer (played by Emily Blunt), Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), and Matt Graver (Josh Brolin).
4. How does Taylor Sheridan’s writing style compare in Sicario and Yellowstone? Both projects feature Sheridan’s signature style of building tension, moral ambiguity, and complex character dynamics.
5. Did Sicario influence Yellowstone? Yes, Sicario laid the foundation for many of the themes explored in Yellowstone, such as family loyalty, power struggles, and moral conflict.
