In Dead Man’s Wire, a man at the end of his rope decides the only answer left is a gun.
On a Tuesday morning in February 1977, Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) went to his appointment with his mortgage lender. He meets with the owner’s son, Richard Hall (Dacre Montgomery), and takes him hostage. Tony feels the lending company cheated him out of a foolproof business plan for a new mall. With a wire going from Richard’s neck to a sawed-off shotgun, Tony agrees to negotiate with his favourite local radio DJ, Fred Temple (Colman Domingo).
Tony relationships with local officers and the chief of police mean they’re keener to avoid any bloodshed. This leads to a lot more leeway than audiences might be used to seeing. Watching police stand back and holster their weapons while Tony escorts his hostage two city blocks to a getaway car is astounding.
Director Gus Van Sant’s talents lie in transporting audiences to another time and place. Tony executes a meticulous plan. Skarsgård portrays a man who’s commanding in his intentions and committed to his threats. The intricate devices he uses are proof these are not the actions of a madman — even if his dark sense of humour suggests otherwise. Fred Temple becomes Tony’s sympathetic ear. Domingo’s suave demeanor and mesmerizing voice radiate from the airwaves, soothing the beast.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery and Colman Domingo
