DVD Corner

Dead Man’s Wire Blu-ray Review

“Dead Man’s Wire” is a respectable Gus Van Sant film.  

Written by Austin Kolodney, “Dead Man’s Wire” is a true crime story about Tony Kiritsis. Set in 1977 in Indianapolis, the story follows the disgruntled and unstable Tony as he takes the son of a rich mortgage broker hostage. The hostage (Richard) was not the intended target as Tony had his sights set on his father M.L. who is on vacation. Tony believes M.L. cheated him on a land deal and wants to expose him. Tony takes Richard hostage by having a shotgun aimed at him and having a dead man’s switch around his neck. He informs the police of the situation and has a set of demands. As the police deal with the hostage crisis, the media starts to cover the situation which causes it to become a circus as it were. 

Filmmaker Gus Van Sant has never been one to shy away from tackling different genres having helmed everything from biopics (“Milk”), original dramas (“Good Will Hunting”) and even a puzzling needless remake (“Psycho”). With “Dead Man’s Wire,” he taps into a true crime story that touches on topics that are still relevant today about class, the mortgage industry, justice, the media, mental health, and folk heroes (whether they should be or not). Gus Van Sant and writer Austin Kolodney do a fine job of capturing the era while also putting their own dark comedy spin on it. Could the film have benefited from more insight into the characters and the overall story? Perhaps, but Gus Van Sant does a commendable job in linking the past with the present with a story that feels all too relevant in this day and age. 

The film features quite a stacked cast here with Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo, and Myha’la. Bill Skarsgård continues his already impressive career with yet another standout performance as Tony. It’s hard to believe this is the same actor that played Pennywise as he completely disappears into every role he takes on. Dacre Montgomery of “Stranger Things” fame shines as the kidnapped Richard and Colman Domingo is real cool as the DJ Fred. Al Pacino (M.L.) goes all in on a southern accent that is a little jarring, but he plays this rich jerk exceedingly well.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. Grade: A-

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: A-

No extras. 

July 11, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Bill Skarsgard, Dead Man's Wire Blu-ray Review, Gus Van Sant, True Crime, True Story