Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the economic climate in this country has a lot of Americans on the edge. That makes the timing for Gus Van Sant’s latest, Dead Man’s Wire, what he calls “both timely and uncomfortable”. The film, which debuted to strong reviews in Venice, is based on the true story of Tony Kiritsis, who captivated the nation in 1977 when he kidnapped his mortgage broker and wired the muzzle of a shotgun to the back of his head.
The film features an extraordinary cast. Bill Skarsgård plays Kiritsis, who made frequent calls to radio stations during the kidnapping and even held a press conference, Dacre Montgomery as his captive Richard Hall, plus Colman Domingo, Cary Elwes, Al Pacino, Myha’la, and Kelly Lynch.
SYNOPSIS: Based on a true story, the 1977 kidnapping of a prominent banker grips the nation and turns the abductor into an outlaw folk hero. As the media frenzy peaks, the standoff becomes a spectacle of desperation, defiance and blurred justice, which resonates even today.
Row K Entertainment will release Dead Man’s Wire in select theaters January 9th 2026, nationwide a week later. There will be an Oscar-qualifying run beginning December 12th. Everyone I know who saw this at TIFF had great things to say about it, so count me as excited.
