(https://i.imgur.com/71v1yNT.png)
Studio: Row K Entertainment, Inc.
Release Date: 7/7/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: B-
The Story: Tony’s dreams of being a real estate magnate have collapsed due to the scheming shenanigans of M. L. Hall and the Meridian Mortgage Company. Tony has a designed a way to make things right, starting with a special appointment to see Mr. Hall. But, just like his business plans, things don’t go as expected, starting with his car key breaking off in the ignition. Then, M. L. is out of town on business, leaving his son, Richard, in charge. Luckily for Tony, their neck sizes are close enough that he’s still able to make things work out.
My Take: This movie didn’t get a lot of buzz when it first came out, which is a little surprising since it’s Gus Van Sant’s first film since 2018. He directs from a script from first-time film writer Austin Kolodney, who’s background comes from TV and comedy work. Their collaboration takes a real-life incident from 1977 and infuses it with enough character-driven humor to fall somewhere in between drama and dark comedy.
The plot moves along briskly, starting in the Meridian offices as Tony meets with Richard, placing the titular wire around his neck, primed to pull the trigger should anything happen to Tony. It’s a whirlwind of activity from there as Tony confronts the police and makes his demands. Interspersed are some other character-driven stories as we meet both law enforcement personnel and media members that play different roles in the story. That’s both a strength and a weakness of the film.
Bill Skarsgård plays Tony with a mixture of intensity and quirkiness, leaving the audience to wonder just how seriously to take him. The performance doesn’t cross over into goofiness but straddles that edge at times. Think of a mix between Michael Shannon and Bill Hader. In contrast, Dacre Montgomery is completely serious in the part of Richard. The contrast is stark between the two men, with Montgomery taking what could have been a very dry part and injecting some non-verbal depth to the role.
While those two men form the core of the movie, there’s plenty of other talent involved. Al Pacino as M. L. Hall will get the most attention, but his part is small and felt like it was filmed in a single day or two. Cary Elwes is a police detective in a unit that isn’t prepared for this kind of event. Like Skarsgård, he plays it a little loosely and not 100% seriously. Rounding out the primary cast are Myha’la as an energetic rookie reporter about to find her first big break. Then there’s Colman Domingo, perfectly nailing it as a popular FM DJ, who’s narrative serves as bookends and also flows throughout the movie. Both of these characters are as interesting as the rest, but could have used more screentime, with the personal side of their stories feeling discarded by the time the film wraps up. Perhaps they were trimmed in editing but could have added more depth with just a few more minutes on screen.
Thematically, it’s hard not to view this movie without reflecting on the Luigi Mangione case. While it was written prior to that incident, it was filmed shortly after. The themes of class envy, wealth, big institutions, and the little guys fighting against them with violence are in the very DNA of the story. And, like Mangione, a certain percentage of the public will sympathize, and even admire, those extreme reactions no matter how drastic and despicable.
Just like the line between comedy and drama, the movie walks a tightrope, showing sympathy for both Tony and Richard. Key to this is how our media uses these kinds of events for ratings while also shaping the public’s view with selective coverage and commentary.
Visuals: The 1.85:1 picture was shot digitally and features natural-looking colors with good detail and contrast. One of the things that stood out was how well cinematographer Arnaud Potier captured the feel of the fading days of winter in the Midwest. There’s still snow on the ground, spotlighted by the muted tones of the limited sunlight hours. Interiors lean toward the dim side, creating a bland feel to the dull colors of Tony’s apartment. It’s not a showy presentation, but one that is accurate to the timeline.
Black and white still shots and TV-style footage is occasionally inserted, seeming authentic until some of the actors appear. The fuzzy, interlaced video offers a good comparison to just how far technology has come since then while anchoring the events to that time period.
Audio: The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix leans heavily on the front speakers, as one would expect for a drama. Dialog is clear but not always anchored to the center speaker. A good example is in one of the opening office scenes, where the camera and center are anchored to the secretary’s viewpoint. Tony and Richard are in the middle of the screen, but their words are directed to the left, right, and surround speakers. It’s a bit distracting, but there are few such examples.
The movie opens with the deep, dulcet tones of Domingo’s introduction to Deodato’s jazzy take on Also Sprach Zarathustra, shifting from the studio into Tony’s car radio. It’s not long before Danny Elfman’s score kicks in. A low-key mix of slow percussion and piano, the jazz-influence adds some tension to the events without overwhelming the movie. Other songs from the 70s are cleverly used, such as Cannock Chase accompanying an inept police pursuit. Less subtle is the use of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised at the end of the movie. Overall, the musical score is a winner, adding just the right touch to this atypical film and broadening the soundstage.
Special Features: None.
Final Verdict: At just an hour and 44 minutes, Dead Man’s Wire tells a taut story based on real events from almost 50 years ago. While moving along briskly, it could have afforded a little more time on the secondary characters who aren’t given enough time to fully develop. Unexpectedly light on violence, the movie’s plot is gripping and sprinkled with character humor that helps alleviate some of the darker themes. That the movie doesn’t explicitly take a “side” risks alienating both ends of today’s volatile viewpoints. That said, my wife and I both enjoyed watching it, not looking to it for any moral clarity.
Recommended for fans of quirky crime dramas, Skarsgård, or Montgomery. Be sure to stick around for the credits as the movie shows some archival footage from the actual event.
Humorously Ironic Quote: "There's some sick, twisted people in this world, Dick."
Warning: trailer contains expletives, NSFW:
https://youtu.be/aHAwgnJL78Y
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup