It’s been centuries since William Shakespeare authored his classic Hamlet, and yet the story continues to thrill and entertain audiences. We’ve seen many actors and directors try their hand at bringing the story to life, each finding a unique way to impart the story to a new generation of viewers. That’s true of this latest adaptation of Hamlet, which opens in theaters on Friday, April 10.

The new adaptation brings a modern twist to the story. The action is set in contemporary London as a family grieves a death and celebrates a wedding. But while the setting and trappings of the world are modern, the dialogue is pulled straight off the page of Shakespeare’s most famous play. That gives this new take a unique twist.

We quickly meet Hamlet (Riz Ahmed) as he returns home after the death of his father. He quickly learns that his mother is due to wed his Uncle, who is taking over his father’s kingdom. It throws Hamlet for a loop.

Hamlet is further aggrieved when he sees his father’s ghost and learns a terrible truth—his father was murdered. Hamlet’s father, the king, was poisoned by his own brother. Now, Hamlet must figure out how to expose this evil deed before it’s too late.

Quickly the wedding celebration goes off the tracks as Hamlet works to avenge his father and expose the truth before it’s too late.

By this point, most everyone is familiar with Hamlet. It’s one of Shakespeare’s most iconic stories and remains a staple of English classes for most all students. We’ve also seen the story brought to life many times, most recently as an off shoot of the Oscar nominee Hamnet. But it’s fair to say we’ve not seen it done like this.

The play is adapted by Michael Lesslie and brought to the screen by Aneil Karia. It does a nice job of capturing modern London—especially the trappings of a specific South Asian culture—to give the story a new twist. It’s also fascinating to see the delivery of some of the iconic lines and speeches in radically new locations.

I was particularly struck by the visuals of Hamlet seeing the ghost of his father on a roof top. It gave a unique scope and spectacle of the city. Meanwhile one of the most charged sequences comes as Hamlet deliver the famous To Be or Not To Be speech while racing down the road playing chicken with oncoming traffic. All of it adds a new visual flourish to a famous story and a famous set of dialogue, and it works well to build the tension.

I also enjoyed Ahmed in the lead role. He brings a great intensity and passion to the part. He’s having quite a spring between this classic role brought to life on film and his new show Bait on Prime Video. Ahmed is a talented performer who pours himself into this production.

At the end of the day, if you’re a fan of Shakespeare and unique art, this will be worth the investment. It’s a classic, well-worn story that manages to find some new ground. It’s visually engaging and emotionally stirring thanks to Ahmed’s powerful performance. Hamlet opens nationwide on Friday.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.