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Dead Man's Wire

Dead Man's Wire

Crime · Drama · Thriller · 2026

In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.

Movie details

Dead Man's Wire

“His revolution was televised.”

2026 Crime · Drama · Thriller 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Dead Man's Wire?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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STRAW

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gus Van Sant

Written by

Austin Kolodney

Bill Skarsgård

Bill Skarsgård

Tony Kiritsis

Dacre Montgomery

Dacre Montgomery

Richard 'Dick' Hall

Cary Elwes

Cary Elwes

Michael Grable

Myha'la

Myha'la

Linda Page

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo

Fred Temple

Al Pacino

Al Pacino

M.L. Hall

Kelly Lynch

Kelly Lynch

Mabel Hall

Court is in session

Put Dead Man's Wire on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.