In February 1977, Indianapolis car salesman Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgard) was behind on his loan for the lot he’d unsuccessfully sought to develop. So, he got a sit-down with mortgage broker Richard Hall (Dacre Montgomery)-looped a wire around Hall’s neck, with the other end on the trigger of a 12-gauge-and proceeded to drag the local authorities and media into a 63-hour standoff over his grievance.
What We Thought:
Dead Man’s Wire is a solid drama especially if you know nothing about the story. It’s based on a true story, but I can’t tell you how accurate the film is compared to the truth, but I didn’t know anything about it so it worked for me. Without knowing what happened in real life I sat there wondering what would happen the entire time so it held my attention throughout.
What also helped was the performances from Bill Skarsgard and Dacre Montgomery. I really only know Montgomery from Stranger Things and thought he was great in this. Bill Skarsgard at this point you know what to expect from, but Dacre was a pleasant surprise and thought he held the film together never knowing if he’ll make a move or make it out alive.
To me it’s the kind of movie we don’t get much of nowadays. It’s a character driven narrative about revenge. Even though the film is based many years ago, the idea of a person wanting to take out his frustrations on a bank/insurance company/doctor’s office or anything like that still very much resonates today. People get mad that a company does them wrong so you 100% understand Skarsgard’s actions. Who hasn’t thought about kidnapping someone they blame for bad stuff and hold a gun to their head? You’re lying to yourself if you say you haven’t.
That’s why despite being a relative simply movie, Dead Man’s Wire worked for me. You understand why everyone involved is there. Al Pacino is the big wig that was the original plan, but wasn’t around so another body is taken. The cops need to let what’s happening happen or else someone could be killed. Montgomery gives a star turning performance that makes you guess how it’s all going to end. If you like Bill Skarsgard or revenge plots, then the movie is…
RECOMMENDED!
The Nerds Templar 