Blazing one hell of a trail, Viola Davis is a fighting force to be reckoned with in a nail-biting historical epic whose cast of Black heroines bring its action bang up to date. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond The Lights, The Old Guard), it focuses on the Agojie, the all-female king’s guard given a fictional spin in Black Panther, who find themselves at the centre of a struggle for Africa’s soul.

Set in the West African kingdom of Dahomey in 1823, it begins with the Agojie (under the command of Davis’ General Nanisca) emerging from long grass to liberate local women from Oyo Empire slavers, plunging the territory into war. Nanisca has the ear of Dahomey’s King Ghezo (John Boyega) and, along with her right-hand women Izogie and Amenza (Lashana Lynch and Sheila Atim), begins training a new breed of fighters. These include Thuso Mbedu’s wilful Nawi, whose family hand her over after she resists an arranged marriage. Jimmy Odukoya plays a frightening face from Nanisca’s past, who now leads the Oyo.

Influenced by epics such as The Last Of The Mohicans, Braveheart and Gladiator, this is rousing stuff with a distinctly and authentically female twist. Its genius is not only emphasising the women’s strength and skills but also their terrifying vulnerability, and the courage it takes to overcome this; with sexual subjugation and enslavement the price you pay for defeat in battle, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

It’s an approach epitomised by Davis’ blistering turn. She’s an actress of almost unparalleled screen ferocity who appears muscular and mighty, and yet we see how her character is wracked with self-doubt and haunted by an earlier ordeal. Alongside Davis, there’s strong support by a wildly charismatic and mischievous Lynch, a gutsy Mbedu (who recently impressed in The Underground Railroad) and a sensitive Atim, with Boyega capturing all the pride, arrogance and flamboyance of a powerful ruler who is nonetheless determined to find a better way to lead his people than aligning with their oppressors.

If she shows flair for crafting inspiring soundbites, there’s some pandering to commercial tastes in Dana Stevens’ script (the plot twist is a little on the nose, as is the need to insert a romantic interest, played by Jordan Bolger). And those looking for a rigorously accurate recreation of the era and the Agojie themselves will be disappointed: Nanisca is fictional and modern morals are undoubtedly imposed on the material. Regardless, this is a sensationally exciting, superbly choreographed and culturally rich piece of filmmaking that feels like a significant step forward for women of colour and their cinematic visibility.

The Woman King is in cinemas from Tuesday 4 October.