Dead Man’s Wire Finds Dark Laughs in a 1970’s Hostage Situation

Genres – Thriller, Crime
Director – Gus Van Sant
Writer – Austin Kolodney
Cast – Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino
Runtime – 105 Minutes
My Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½☆☆

Where to watch/stream Dead Man’s Wire

Dead Man’s Wire is a wild and weirdly funny true crime story

Dead Man’s Wire is based on the infamous 1977 kidnapping of mortgage broker Richard O. Hall, and you will probably end up laughing at things you probably shouldn’t be laughing at.

Plot Summary of Dead Man’s Wire (Spoiler-Free)

Dead Man’s Wire tells the story of Tony Kiritsis, a man pushed to the edge by financial desperation, and takes place in Indianapolis in 1977, a time when polyester shirts and corduroy pants were apparently considered “business casual.”

Tony is a regular guy on the outside, but inside he’s simmering with frustration toward Meridian Mortgage Company, which he feels has cheated him.

When he goes to confront the company, things quickly spiral out of control, and fter an initial meeting doesn’t go as planned, Tony ends up taking Richard Hall, the president’s son, hostage, where he wires a shotgun to Richard’s head.

From there, the story escalates, taking us through a tense standoff on the streets of Indianapolis, media frenzy, police negotiations, and some increasingly absurd twists.

Dead Man’s Wire Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Dead Man’s Wire is a strange film that is also quite funny, and one that will make you feel slightly uncomfortable at times.

Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis is excellent, as he balances awkwardness, desperation, and a kind of jittery charm that makes you understand, if not condone, what Tony is doing.

He is someone that looks entirely ordinary – thin mustache, slightly too-tight polyester shirt, arm in a sling – but every twitch of his eye and nervous shuffle makes you hold your breath, as he is incredibly unremarkable, yet you won’t forget him in a hurry.

Then there’s Dacre Montgomery as Richard Hall, who spends most of the film trying not to get blown up while dealing with a hostage situation that grows stranger by the minute, and while he’s good, most of his role is mostly about reacting to Tony, where he is the perfect foil to Tony’s unhinged glory.

Some of the other supporting cast, including Colman Domingo as a smooth-talking DJ and Cary Elwes as a detective who’s more bewildered than heroic, adds a some depth and fun to it all, while Myha’la, as a TV reporter desperate to get the scoop, steals a few scenes with her no-nonsense determination.

And lets not forget the one and only Al Pacino, and here he is all slick suits, arrogance, and scowls, and you can tell he’s having a blast, and so was I watching him.

It’s clear Van Sant and Kolodney have a clear love for the material, blending the real-life events with a cinematic sensibility that gives it energy and style, and the 1970s setting is nailed perfectly – cars, clothes, hairstyles, and interiors all make you feel like you’ve stepped into another decade.

It’s Dead Man’s Wire tone that’s the best thing about the film though, as you never quite know what will happen next, as we watch Tony push back against the system, however misguidedly, and it is all very strangely satisfying.

It’s also worth noting that the film’s dark humor never feels forced, which is often an issue in film, but the humor is delivered pretty well, and you’ll laugh because the situation is ridiculous, and the characters are exaggerated, and it feels like you’e watching a circus collapse in slow motion.

I would have personally liked to have seen some of the trial and verdict, and while I getthat Van Sant wants to focus on the chaos and Tony’s personal rebellion, but leaving the legal aftermath almost entirely off-screen feels like it’s missing something.

The pacing is another mixed bag, as early on, the tension builds beautifully, but there are moments where the film waits a little too long on minor interactions.

Dead Man’s Wire is worth a watch though, and I hope it does well because I quite enjoyed it, even with a few little things that scattered throughout that bothered me a bit, but not too much to hinder my overall enjoyment of the film.

What I Liked (And What I Didn’t Like)

Pros

Character work

Tony Kiritsis is awkward and unpredictable, and it’s a character you are genuinely interested in.

Skarsgård’s performance

Bill Skarsgård is Bill Skarsgård.

Period detail

The 1970s setting is well handled.

Supporting cast

Al Pacino, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Cary Elwes, and Myha’la all add something to the film worthwhile.

Dark humor

Loved it.

Cinematography

The cinematography really helped enhance it all overall.

Tone

The filmnever really feels disjointed, which would have been easily done with everything going on.

Cons

Trial skipped

The film barely touches on the aftermath or verdict.

Some pacing issues

Certain scenes wander too long on minor interactions.

Small plot tweaks

Some of the real events are altered a bit.

A bit of “style over substance”

Occasional shots or moments feel more about the film wanting to look cool.

Who Might Like Dead Man’s Wire

• Fans of true crime stories with a twist
• People who enjoy hostage thrillers
• If you like dark, absurd humor
• Anyone interested in ’70s aesthetics and period detail
• Fans of Bill Skarsgård or Al Pacino
• Viewers who like media satire in films
• Fans of indie or auteur-driven cinema

Who Might Dislike Dead Man’s Wire

• Those who prefer straightforward, realistic crime dramas
• Viewers who dislike period films
• Peoplewho dislike dark humor
• Those who prefer fast, action-packed pacing
• Anyone expecting a conventional true crime adaptation

Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching Dead Man’s Wire?

Dead Man’s Wire is a wild ride, where the humor sneaks up on you in ways you won’t see coming, and overall it has a lot of things going for it, even with some flaws, but those flaws shouldn’t bother you too much.

Dead Man’s Wire Trailer

Simon Leasher

A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More

And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.