It’s Johnny Depp as you’ve never seen him before. “Black Mass” hit theaters on September 18, telling the story of James “Whitey” Bulger, an infamous Irish mafia crime lord. After its release, it quickly rose to the number two spot at the box office, and rightfully so. “Black Mass” spins an intriguing tale of the mafia and the FBI, as an alliance is formed between two childhood friends from opposite sides.

The film tells the story of two men from two very different backgrounds of life who are only connected by their childhood friendship. James “Whitey” Bulger led a life of crime as a mob boss, while his friend John Connelly became an FBI agent. One day, Bulger is approached by his old friend asking him to form an alliance with the FBI to take down another Mafia family. He reluctantly agrees, but the power soon goes to his head, since Connolly covers up the evidence for all of Bulger’s killings, drug cartelling, and other criminal activities. Bulger gives valuable information to the FBI, but a trail of mayhem is left in his wake.

Everything about it is perfect for this kind of movie. The cinematography is gritty, dark, grimy, and dirty, perfect for the setting of a south Boston slum. I applaud the Director of Photography for a job well done. The director, Scott Cooper, is a newcomer to the film industry, but already is contributing multiple award-winning pieces. With this being his third big box office flick, we can expect great things from him.

In combination with the stunning visuals, the actors pull their weight as well. Johnny Depp plays a phenomenal performance as Bulger, a part that is incredibly different from any other role he has played before. Depp is emotionless, cold-hearted, and a ruthless killer, perfecting the mob boss psyche. The rest of the cast shines as well. Kevin Bacon and Benedict Cumberbatch both make an appearance, and they do a fairly good job in their roles. The only bad thing I can say about Cumberbatch’s performance is that sometimes his thick British accent comes through, unlike his character who has a Boston accent.

A fair warning to possible viewers: this movie is very violent and has coarse language throughout it. In no way does this film glamorize violent behavior; instead, it shows you the downfall resulting from it. On the other hand, if you are planning to see a movie with just nonstop violence and killing, this is not the movie for you. It is a slow pace, intense story of the ins and outs of crime. Still, when the violence is there, it is intense and graphic.

All in all, I give “Black Mass” two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for one of the best thrillers of the fall movie season.