'Dead Man's Wire' Review
- Cassandra Hager
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Release Date: 01/16/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Biography. Crime. Drama. History.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Row K Entertainment.
The Verdict: A Must-See
We have been blessed with a new Gus Van Sant joint, and I’m pleased to report Dead Man’s Wire, a retro crime thriller with a comedic twist, is worth the wait. Based on a bizarre true tale, it tells the story of a standoff that took place in dramatic fashion on live television. Bill Skarsgard channels the ‘70s criminal vibe he perfected in the Netflix series Clark, and this character is in much more dire straits.
The year was 1977. Tony Kiritsis was a former real estate broker who set up a “dead man’s switch” between him and a banker (Dacre Montgomery) who he thought screwed him out of money. Kiritsis tells police he doesn’t want much – just a cool $5 million in cash, an apology, and a promise that he won’t get in trouble when it’s all over. Skarsgard's charm and lanky, attractive awkwardness serve him well here. Montgomery holds his own, though his character requires less emotional range.
The availability of so much real-life footage is something Van Sant himself said drew him to the project. The 911 call made by Kiritsis can be found easily. Footage (albeit grainy) of him walking his hostage up the busy streets of New York are everywhere. The shell of the film is rooted in reality, with writer Austin Kolodner taking liberties in crafting interactions between the men in what must have been a tense 72 hours. More emotional scenes between the two could have elevated the movie, but overall, Van Sant does an excellent job balancing drama and darkly comedic undertones.