Dead Man's Wire
Van Sant's slowest burn yet about a man who physically wires himself to his victim
The brief
Van Sant strips this wild true crime story down to its most uncomfortable essence, letting Bill Skarsgård's unhinged desperation fill every suffocating frame as he literally wires himself to his victim. The director's trademark slow-burn pacing turns what could have been a thriller into something closer to psychological torture - both for the characters and anyone watching. Skarsgård commits fully to the manic energy while Pacino chews through his supporting role like he's making up for lost time. Perfect for fans of Dog Day Afternoon or anyone who wants their crime stories served with maximum anxiety and zero easy answers.
The verdict
If you crave psychological crime stories that prioritize suffocating tension over action and can handle Van Sant's deliberately punishing pace, this is essential viewing for Skarsgård's unhinged performance alone. If you prefer your thrillers with momentum and clear resolutions rather than anxiety-inducing slow burns, you'll find this more torturous than thrilling.
Watch with
- 👤 Crime thriller fans who appreciate deliberate pacing
- ⚠️ Those sensitive to hostage situations or psychological distress
Heads up
- Hostage situation with explosive device threat (frequent)
- Psychological abuse and manipulation (moderate)
- Intense scenes of desperation and panic (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Cast
- Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, Myha'la, Kelly Lynch
Official synopsis
In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both feature desperate men using extreme tactics against corrupt systems.
Total runtime: 1h 45m + 1h 29m = 3h 14m
