Danny Trejo reprises his role as the eponymous Mexican secret agent in Robert Rodriguez's blood-soaked sequel to his 2010 exploitation homage.

Machete Cortez (Trejo) is granted citizenship of the United States by the President (Charlie Sheen) in exchange for hunting down a terrorist called Mendez (Demian Bichir), who intends to launch a nuclear payload at Washington D.C., the beating heart of the country's democratic process.

Machete accepts his task with tough-talking sidekick Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) in tow, plus this time he gets to work with sexy undercover agent, Ms San Antonio (Amber Heard), whose luscious locks pale next to her talents with a loaded gun.

Machete wields his namesake without mercy as he cuts a swathe through Mendez's henchmen, unmasking the mastermind of the diabolical plot: an arms manufacturer called Voz (Mel Gibson), who has many reasons for wanting to unleash nuclear armageddon. Lady Gaga cameos in her debut feature film.