Pakistani-American writer/director Bassam Tariq follows up his promising debut Mogul Mowgli with a fiercely spiritual action thriller that subverts stereotypes, whilst acting as a formidable showcase for its double Oscar-winning star, Mahershala Ali. Tariq and Ali were set to work together on the MCU reboot of Blade, which was tragically cancelled, with Ali’s stunt and sword training put to stunning use here instead.

The actor plays devout Muslim Latif, an ex-military hitman dealing with the sudden death of his beloved wife and mother of his three children, plunging him into a crisis of faith as he struggles to fill her shoes, and battles to secure breastmilk for their baby with an unsympathetic medical establishment. As if that wasn’t enough, Latif gets drawn into the conflict between his shady employer Mike (Laith Nakli) and gun-toting, gold-toothed Christian pastor Hwan (John Cho, clearly having a blast). Hwan is targeting Mike’s nephew, Hatty (Abubakr Ali), who runs a porn studio specialising in Muslim-themed material. Giancarlo Esposito is the local imam desperate to keep Latif on the straight and narrow, while Adia plays Fatiha, Latif’s distraught but no less defiant teenage daughter.

Ali gives another astounding, mesmerically pained and conflicted performance at the centre of this fascinating, visually rich film, showing impressive physicality and pairing credibly and touchingly with newcomer Adia. There are powerful scenes aplenty as Tariq puts mothers on a divine pedestal, immerses us in Muslim culture, makes religious hypocrisy a target, and offers his own thrillingly idiosyncratic and intimate take on crime tropes. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother dips its toe in John Wick-esque waters, but is far more interesting and emotionally authentic. The film transcends its pulpy, neo-noir stylings by demonstrating the destructive cycle of religious violence, and speaking soulfully to the tensions of our time.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is screened at BFI London Film Festival, Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October; on general release from Friday 20 November.