A year after the comic, violent, revenge-fantasy award winning slavery film Djanjo Unchained stirred its controversy in US cinemas, Steve McQueen’s latest film, 12 Years a Slave, has officially arrived. Produced by Brad Pitt and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, and Pitt, 12 Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon Northrop, a free black man in 1840s New York City who is conned, abducted and sold in to slavery.

The film debuted this weekend at Toronto Film Festival, and the reception at Toronto reflects a rare unanimously effusive praise from the festival circuit. A momentary glimpse of the coverage from Vulture, Buzzfeed, EW, The Guardian, and everyone else who had the chance the view the film indicates 12 Years a Slave will be something special.

The film will open in the states October 18.