Vertigo Releasing presents Dead Man’s Wire in UK and Ireland cinemas from March 20, 2026.
Synopsis
On Feb. 8, 1977, disgruntled real-estate developer Tony Kiritsis takes mortgage broker Richard Hall hostage, keeping him tied up in his apartment with a sawed-off shotgun pointed at his head.
Review
Crime dramas nowadays come in many shapes and sizes, whether that be action-filled heist stories or tense dialogue-driven thrillers; there’s enough variety to please most audiences. However, nothing quite beats the brutally grounded nature of 70s crime films, which felt like they were taking place there and then, right in front of the camera. Hopefully, this is something acclaimed director Gus Van Sant can recapture with his new film Dead Man’s Wire, one that is based on a gripping, yet slightly bizarre true story.
The core driving force of the film is easily its performances; the direction is also strong here, but this is definetly ones of those instances where the cast is let loose to make the most of their characters. At the forefront, you have Bill Skarsgård, who portrays Tony Kiritsis as a rather manic and unpredictable individual. All he wants throughout the film is a simple list of demands to be met, but Skarsgård constantly plays up to the angry and agitated side of Kiritsis, even when the situation looks to be resolving itself. This is a man who just wants the money he is owed, but he consistently lets his emotions get in the way of the very things he wants, painting him as a somewhat tragic character in the process.
Alongside Skarsgård, you have a stacked cast filled with talented actors such as Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Colman Domingo, Myha’la, and even Al Pacino. Each of them has their moment to shine, whether that be for suspense, dramatic or levity purposes. Though Skarsgård is very much the main focus here, the supporting cast brings their own skills to the mix in a way that results in a slightly chaotic but ultimately rewarding ensemble.
Dead Man’s Wire, in many ways, shares a lot of similarities with the 1975 classic Dog Day Afternoon. Both films are based on real-life hostage incidents involving a disgruntled working-class man who simply wants financial reconciliation from the system that put them in this position in the first place….oh, and both just happen to have Pacino in them.
Thankfully, the film is fully aware of this comparison and doubles down on its 70s setting and aesthetic to great effect, from the gritty filmic look of the cinematography to the addition of era-accurate news broadcasts and camera moves such as frantic crash zooms and detailed close-ups. The fact that Van Sant chose not just to make the setting and characters period accurate, but also to go out of his way to make the film itself look and feel like one that would have been made in that decade is an attention to detail that is very much appreciated, harking back to the same approach Spielberg took with his 2005 film Munich.
That said, the film is not afraid to dabble in subtle tonal shifts. Though it does have tense moments, most notably at the start and end of the film, the rest of its runtime focuses on the characters at the centre of this situation and how they choose to deal with their roles within it. Because of this, Van Sant is given breathing room to occasionally sneak in instances of dark humour and unconventional editing, which may seem out of place for some, but in the context of the plot, these choices help reinforce the absurdity of the scenario and the fact its escalated to the level it has. This even goes as far as having Elwes’ Michael Grable commenting on more than one occasion how much of a ‘shit show’ the whole thing is getting.
If you’re a fan of 70s crime films, then you’ll feel right at home with Dead Man’s Wire. It maybe could have benefited from relying more on its suspenseful elements in the long run, but for what it is, this film succeeds in the unusual way in which it tackles its subject matter. Does everything here work? No, not necessarily. Does it still manage to keep you thoroughly invested from start to finish? Absolutely.
Verdict
Dead Man’s Wire is a gripping drama that embraces its 70s film influences and isn’t afraid to dip into varying, sometimes conflicting tones just for the hell of it. With fantastic performances throughout and strong direction from Van Sant, this is one you don’t want to miss.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
