It’s no secret that ever since bursting onto our screens, the John Wick franchise has given birth to a multitude of knock-off productions hoping to capitalise on its critical and box-office success. From Nobody, to more recently Pig, there seems to be a growing trend in Hollywood for taciturn loners with a vengeful agenda. So it was only a matter of time before we had a female-centric version of the genre. 
Starring Karen Gillan (Dr Who) and Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey, Gunpowder Milkshake is the brainchild of award-winning Israeli director Navot Papushado (Rabies, Big Bad Wolves). The film also stars Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Paul Giamatti and tells the story of a young contract assassin and her quest for revenge. 
Sam (Gillan) was only 12 when she was abandoned by her elite assassin mother Scarlet (Headey). Raised by The Firm  — a ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for — Sam has acquired the skills that made her mother into one of the most feared killers in the business. Fifteen years later, the young woman has grown into one of The Firm’s most essential assets. 
When her latest mission goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving her bosses and protecting the life of an innocent eight-year-old girl (Chloe Coleman). With a target on her back, our heroine’s only chance at survival is a reunion with Scarlet and her associates (played by Bassett, Yeoh and Carla Gugino). 
Director Papushado and co-writer Ehud Lavski presents a film that exists within a strange and otherworldly heightened reality in which action set pieces function almost like meticulously choreographed dances. 
While the dialogue and exchanges carry more than their fair share of overly-rehearsed back and forth, there is more than a little satisfaction in watching these women interact with each other  even though it can feel a little jarring at times.