Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is faced with a new peril that threatens those closest to him and the stability of the entire world. 

The villain in question here is an artificial intelligence known only as “The Entity” that can infiltrate any technology and effectively erode truth by manipulating what anyone using that technology sees and hears. A special cruciform key is the MacGuffin that all interested parties are chasing after, as it alone has the power to shut down the A.I. or give control over it. 

The result is another spectacular globe trotting action movie that ends in a truly wonderful set piece that arguably tops anything seen in a Mission film before. No mean feat. 

After the opening four Mission films each being overseen by a different director Christopher McQuarrie has now very much taken the reigns alongside Cruise. Having breathed new life into the franchise with Rogue Nation and delivered the franchise’s pinnacle in Fallout McQuarrie and Cruise are looking to top those efforts with a sprawling two part feature that is perhaps its finale. Dead Reckoning Part One runs at 163 minutes long, but it is a running time you will hardly notice as you are gripped by the twists and turns of the plot and the thrills of the action. 

Its only weak point is a slightly clunky opening that features a number of scenes that set up some history and information that will be useful for later including the origin of the Entity and Hunt himself. After this we are treated to a shoot out in the desert, a cat and mouse game in an airport, a car chase in Rome and a superb finale on a speeding train. The stunt work is exemplary and also throws a few nods to stunts in the earlier films. 

The cast features the usual array of new and old. Hunt’s team of Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg) and Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson) now very much feel like a family unit and bicker and converse with love. Whilst Kitteridge (Henry Czerny) makes a welcome return after appearing in the first film and The White Widow (Vanessa Kirby) returns again thanks to her mother’s link with Kitteridge. Whilst those new to the film entirely include the  villains doing the Entity’s bidding; Gabriel (Esai Morales) and his minion Paris (Pom Klementieff), a special operative chasing Hunt named Briggs (Shea Whigham) who appears to have history with him. Most importantly though is Grace (Haley Atwell) who just like the female lead in Mission: Impossible 2 is a master thief who becomes embroiled in Hunt’s mission and an ally. 

Of all the new major players Atwell’s character is the most spectacular introduction whilst Morales character perhaps the most disappointing. Grace is a superb new character and gives Hunt the same challenges as the introduction of Ilsa did in Rogue Nation. Someone who is his equal in their tenacity and ability to adapt to what is in front of them. Gabriel on the other hand feels like a lesser villain in the Mission pantheon whose motives seem a little unclear right now. 

I look forward with anticipation as to how Dead Reckoning Part Two will close off the unanswered threads opened here and if indeed it will be the Mission finale. 

If you want to read more about my thoughts on Mission: Impossible check out my ranking here: Mission: Impossible – Ranked