Mahershala Ali stars as Latif, a grieving single father and hitman in Houston who must protect his children after his wife’s death. Directed by Bassam Tariq, the film blends Islamic faith, samurai action, and family drama, premiering at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
When Bassam Tariq brought his sophomore feature to the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, anticipation was already running high. Opening-night tickets for the screening sold out almost instantly according to reporting out of the festival. For film fans, the project carried an extra layer of industry lore. Long before cameras rolled on this contemporary drama, director Tariq and star Mahershala Ali were attached to Marvel Studios’ shelved Blade movie. That aborted blockbuster left Ali with sword training that ultimately found a second life here.
Mahershala Ali Steps Into a Gritty Houston Underworld
Set in a working-class neighborhood of Houston, Texas, where multicultural communities live in close proximity, the story centers on a devout Muslim father named Latif. Played by Ali with a stoic and serious intensity, Latif leads a dangerous double life as a contract killer. The film opens with a brutal brawl in a dingy bathroom where Ali’s character dispatches an opponent with a knife before calmly cleaning the blade using a wet wipe from a diaper bag, as described in festival reviews.
That equilibrium shatters following the death of his wife, Khadijah. Left alone to raise three children—teenage daughter Fatiha, 10-year-old son Qadir, and infant baby Aziza—Latif faces an impossible crisis. The newborn baby cannot digest formula, and the frozen breast milk left behind by her mother quickly runs out. This forces the hitman into a desperate, quixotic scramble across the city to find a lactating woman who can feed his child.
A Theological Premise Rooted in an Islamic Parable
John Cho and an Eclectic Supporting Cast
As Latif’s world spins out of control, he faces a job offered to him by head of security
Mike Mahmoudi. This pulls the protagonist into a violent crossfire involving several eccentric factions operating within Houston's multicultural community. John Cho delivers a striking, colorful performance as Pastor Kwan, a gun-crazy Christian cultist.
The supporting ensemble also features Giancarlo Esposito as Abdul Malik, the compassionate owner of the local mosque who acts as a crucial moral anchor for Latif. Meanwhile, young actress Adia delivers a performance as teenage daughter Fatiha.
Genre-Mashing Tonal Shifts in a Complex Indie Release
Director Bassam Tariq constructs a narrative that shifts in tone, jumping from intimate family drama and single fatherhood to action sequences and dark comedic detours—including a storyline involving halal-certified pornography.
| Key Creative Role | Cast or Crew Member |
|---|---|
| Director and Writer | Bassam Tariq |
| Lead Actor (Latif) | Mahershala Ali |
| Fatiha (Daughter) | Adia |
| Pastor Kwan | John Cho |
| Abdul Malik (Mosque Owner) | Giancarlo Esposito |
Amazon MGM Studios scheduled the film for a theatrical release on September 25, 2026, positioning the gritty drama for audiences seeking an unconventional twist on the traditional hitman narrative.