Following up a fling with big-budget-blockbuster films, director Gavin Hood’s sleek, hyper-suspenseful Eye in the Sky tells the story of a super secret military operation led by Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren) tasked with tracking down and capturing a group of wanted terrorists in Kenya. After surveillance discovers suicide vests and explosives in the terrorist hideout, eliminating the targets by missile seems to be a solution that would yield the least possible civilian casualties. The situation is complicated further by the presence of a little girl (Aisha Takow) in the blast kill zone and the strike is put on hold as an international dispute erupts concerning the legal, political and moral consequences of collateral damage.

Snappy dialogue courtesy of screenwriter Guy Hibbert, and a heightened sense of urgency help the film move along at a hasty clip. The government and military personnel’s delegations on how to proceed bounce back in forth like a master tennis match as every possible action and outcome is taken into account. The serious nature of the circumstances are offset by sparse yet effective moments of levity with officials constantly “referring up” the chain of command for advisement much to the chagrin of those in favor of the missile strike and another instance where a bout with food poisoning did not excuse one from his duties. On the ground surveillance scenes of bird and beetle drones are dazzling and provide many suspenseful moments while they maneuver around corners and doorways in enemy territory.

Despite the lower budget than his previous two efforts, Hood’s film does not lack for star power. Helen Mirren is fierce as the Colonel consumed by a bloodlust for a target that has eluded her for six years. Mirren exhibits a composed desperation, unwilling to let her prey slip through her fingers this time. Barkhad Abdi plays the undercover on-site surveillance soldier with the heart of gold, unlike his menacing turn in Captain Phillips, and is just as natural and engaging. Alan Rickman is riveting in his final on-screen performance. His Lt. General Frank Benson is a weathered war veteran well acquainted with the costs of war and represents a stark contrast to Aaron Paul’s in-experienced drone pilot Steve Watts, his heartache apparent with even the thought of hurting a child. An immersive and satisfyingly challenging cinematic experience, Eye in the Sky is a hard stare into the heart of modern warfare.