Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Taut 1970s true crime thriller resonates today; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dead Man's Wire
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In 1977, Tony Kiristis (Bill Skarsgård) walked into the Meridian Mortage Company in Indianapolis and took president Richard "Dick" Hall (Dacre Montgomery) hostage. Hooking Dick up to a DEAD MAN'S WIRE—a wire noose connected between himself, the hostage, and a sawed-off shotgun—Tony set out to make his story public, warning others about the unethical banking practices he believed were in effect at the time.
Is It Any Good?
As taut as the wire around Dick Hall's neck, Van Sant's thriller about a largely forgotten case from decades ago feels uncomfortably relevant today. Powerful people exploiting the working class or the poor is, sadly, a situation that persists. Dead Man's Wire challenges viewers to ask themselves how they feel when someone pushed to the brink takes justice into their own hands, even when their actions are indefensible.
Dead Man's Wire doesn't steer viewers' opinions with a heavy hand; rather, it lays out the story as it happened. We're given the same information about Tony and Dick that the police or public had available at the time, and we can drawn our own conclusions. It's a smart, effective approach, though possibly less emotionally satisfying for viewers who are accustomed to the deeper psychological insights typical of true crime dramas. Quite subtly, Van Sant also prompts a big question through a small moment: What skills may be taught to those with privilege that those without privilege may not be aware of? The film is a great conversation starter for families with older teens, beginning with that famous line from another movie set in the 1970s: What happens when people are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the perhaps less obvious advantages that come with privilege, as seen through the differences in Dick and Tony's lives. How does Dead Man's Wire demonstrate that it can be hard to escape from the cycle of poverty?
Why do you think some people who commit heinous acts—like Bonnie and Clyde, Billy the Kid, or Luigi Mangione—are elevated to hero status in the public eye? What role does the media play in shaping those opinions?
What was the social climate in the 1970s? What events were taking place in the United States involving people in power, and how do you think that impacted those who did not have power?
What role does pride play in the movie's events? Why is this character trait both a motivator and a danger?
The movie is based on a true story. How accurate do you think it is to what actually happened? Why might filmmakers sometimes adjust the facts in stories that are based on real life?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 9, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : February 24, 2026
- Cast : Bill Skarsgård , Dacre Montgomery , Colman Domingo
- Director : Gus Van Sant
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Row K Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories , History
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 18, 2026
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