Review: Dead Man's Wire

InSession Film Podcast

Jan 28, 2026•48 min

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Episode description

On this episode, we break down DEAD MAN'S WIRE, Gus Van Sant's gripping new film based on the real-life 1977 Tony Kiritsis hostage standoff. We dive into Van Sant's restrained direction, the film's slow-burn tension, and how it uses true crime to explore the fight for justice, corruption, and the violence baked into American spectacle. Does it say anything about America's appetite for real-time trauma as entertainment? It's trying to, but does it get there? That's the real question.

While we wish the film was more impactful thematically, DEAD MAN'S WIRE fits wonderfully within Gus Van Sant's career — from his fascination with outsiders to his continued interest in moral ambiguity and systems of power.

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