“Dead Man’s Wire” (2025)
Drama / Action
Running Time: 122 minutes
Written by: Austin Kolodney
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Featuring: Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo and Al Pacino
Fred Temple: “Okay, listen, I’m gonna need you to call my wife. Tell her I’m gonna be late. I don’t know which call is scarier.”
Based on an extraordinary true story, Dead Man’s Wire takes us back to Indianapolis in 1977, where disgruntled businessman Tony Kiritsis walks into a mortgage company and takes Richard Hall hostage, attaching a shotgun to the back of his neck with a device designed to fire if Kiritsis is killed. What follows is an increasingly bizarre and tense hostage situation that attracts enormous media attention.
Directed by Gus Van Sant, this is a fascinating slice of 1970s crime drama that feels very much in the tradition of Dog Day Afternoon. Bill Skarsgård is excellent as Kiritsis, delivering a wonderfully unpredictable performance that balances anger, desperation and occasional dark humour. Dacre Montgomery also deserves credit as the unfortunate hostage, while Colman Domingo and Al Pacino add some welcome star power to an already impressive cast.
The film takes its time developing the situation, and although the initial setup is gripping, the pacing occasionally loses momentum as the story progresses. Nevertheless, there’s plenty here to keep you interested, particularly the underlying themes of corporate greed, injustice and the relationship between the media and public opinion.
Picture Quality
The Blu-ray delivers a very pleasing 1080p presentation. The deliberately aged cinematography gives the film an authentic 1970s appearance, with muted colours, earthy tones and a noticeable film-grain texture. Detail is generally very good, with natural-looking skin tones and solid contrast. The presentation retains the intended vintage aesthetic without sacrificing too much in terms of high-definition clarity.
Sound Quality
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack provides clear dialogue and a respectable surround presentation. This isn’t an especially aggressive soundtrack, as much of the film relies on conversations and atmosphere rather than big action sequences. The music and environmental effects add to the period atmosphere, although the mix could have offered a little more excitement.
Special Features
Unfortunately, this is a bare-bones release with no additional bonus material. No commentary, behind-the-scenes features or interviews are included, which is disappointing given the fascinating real-life story behind the film.
Verdict
Dead Man’s Wire is an entertaining and unusual crime drama, elevated considerably by Bill Skarsgård’s terrific central performance and Gus Van Sant’s confident direction. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the classic hostage thrillers it clearly draws inspiration from, there’s enough here to make it worthwhile viewing.
The Blu-ray offers good picture quality and capable sound, but the complete absence of extras is a missed opportunity.
A worthwhile addition for fans of true-crime dramas and 1970s-style thrillers, although perhaps not an essential purchase for everyone.
Leave a Reply