Dead Man's Wire (2025)

Dead Man’s Wire is a little too taken with Tony Kiritsis. Gus Van Sant tells the true story of the 1977 Indianapolis standoff, when Tony, convinced a mortgage company had cheated him on a land deal, took Richard Hall hostage with a shotgun wired to him. Tony becomes a kind of folk hero on local radio, and the movie enjoys his grievance so much that Richard’s ordeal slips into the background. Still, it’s tense and offbeat. Bill Skarsgård is fearless as Tony, jittery and impossible to read. Dacre Montgomery plays Richard, a son who simply took a meeting meant for his father, and Colman Domingo is Fred Temple, the DJ who becomes the go-between. Al Pacino’s M.L. Hall refusing to apologize on one phone call says plenty. The 1970s details feel lived in. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. A 7.0 because Skarsgård is electric and the film doesn’t quite reckon with who got hurt. $364 says you turn on the local radio in the car tomorrow and actually listen to the DJ.

What works: Bill Skarsgård gives a fearless, jittery performance, and the period detail makes 1977 Indianapolis feel completely real.

What doesn’t: The film is so caught up in Tony’s grievance and energy that the man he held hostage can fade into the background.

Who it’s for: True-crime fans and anyone who likes tense, offbeat thrillers built on real events.