In 1977, a former real estate developer takes the son of a corrupt mortgage banker hostage, demanding $5 million and a personal apology. A film by Gus Van Sant, Starring Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Kelly Lynch, John Robinson, Vinh Nguyen, Mark Helms, Todd Gable, Michael Ashcraft, Neil Mulac, Daniel R. Hill, Colman Domingo, Dean Coutris, Maresha Robinson, Katie Kinman, Kyle Rankin, William Davis, Andy Allen, John N. Dixon, Jordan Claire Robbins, Elliot Gross, Aaron Massey, Don Overstreet, Casey Feigh, Stephanie Bertoni, Michael James Dukes, David Haight, Rita Hight, and Al Pacino.

It is Tuesday, 8 February 1977. Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) arrives at the J.F. Wild building in Indianapolis. His left arm rests in a blue sling, and tucked under his good arm is a long, narrow cardboard box.

Meridian Mortgage’s office was located at 129 East Market Street in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The building was completed in 1922 and is a 12-story office building. J.F. Wild & Co. State Bank made its home at this address in 1923. It was known as the J.F. Wild Building.

When Tony steps up to the reception desk, Tony is visibly frustrated to find that the usual receptionist, Barb, isn’t there. He questions her replacement, who introduces herself as Doreen (Jordan Claire Robbins). Tony gives his name and says he has an appointment with M.L. Hall at Meridian Mortgage. After checking the schedule, Doreen assures Tony that Mr. Hall will be right with him and invites him to take a seat on the couches.

Moments later, Doreen apologizes for a scheduling conflict and informs Tony that M.L. is now in Florida. When Tony angrily insists he has a meeting today, Doreen quickly assures him that the appointment still stands, explaining that M.L.’s son Richard, is on his way down to see him.

Richard “Dick” Hall (Dacre Montgomery) comes down to greet Tony, apologizing for his father’s sudden absence due to a last-minute work trip. Furious, Tony accuses M.L. of deliberately dodging both him and the harsh Indianapolis winter. Hoping to defuse the situation, Richard invites Tony up to M.L.’s office, and Tony agrees.

Upon entering M.L.’s office, Tony is surprised to find Barb (Rita Hight), who has been promoted to M.L.’s assistant. Tony remarks that it is good to see her moving up, adding that she has always been nice to him.

Tony shuts the office door behind them, saying that he’d like some privacy. He then opens his cardboard box, pulls out a rolled-up document, and asks Dick to help him spread it out on the table. Dick obliges, assuming they are about to review the land plot Tony and M.L. have been negotiating. However, Dick is startled when he unfurls the paper and realizes it is not a land plan, but a shotgun manual.

As Dick turns around, he finds Tony leveling a revolver directly at him. Tony declares that Meridian Mortgage has wronged him, and he intends to expose exactly what Dick and M.L. have done. He holds Dick at gunpoint and orders him to turn around. Working from behind, Tony takes out a shotgun, wires the muzzle to Dick’s neck, and connects another wire directly to the trigger. This creates a dead man’s switch, rigged to fire instantly if Dick tries to escape or anyone attempts to intervene.

The dead man’s switch concept originated in late 19th-century railroad systems as a way to prevent accidents when train operators became incapacitated. It gained widespread adoption after a devastating subway disaster in New York City on 1 November 1918, which killed 93 people and seriously injured 50 others. In the aftermath, dead man’s switches began appearing in train driver cabs as an emergency safety mechanism, automatically stopping a train if the driver died or lost consciousness. The switch works by requiring continuous pressure from the operator, typically a pedal, button, or lever that must be held down at all times. If the operator becomes ‘a dead man,’ whether from death, falling asleep, a heart attack, or simply passing out, they naturally release the switch, which then cuts power or applies the brakes automatically. A more unusual variation on this idea appeared during the 1977 Indianapolis hostage crisis, sometimes referred to as a “dead man’s wire” or “dead man’s line.” Tony Kiritsis rigged a shotgun to his own head with the trigger wire connected to Richard Hall’s neck, so that if Kiritsis were shot or Hall attempted to flee, the gun would discharge.

From M.L.’s office, Tony calls 911 to report that he has taken Richard Hall hostage, demanding to speak to the highest-ranking officer on duty. He warns the police that he has a shotgun wired to a man’s neck, and if anyone yanks on him or the weapon, the man will die.

Ranting about his betrayal, Tony explains that he treated Richard’s father like his own, only to be treated like a dog in return. When the officer (John N. Dixon) asks for his name and location, Tony identifies himself and states that he is on the fourth floor of the executive offices at 129 East Market Street.

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@pradt

DEAD MAN’S WIRE 📺
His revolution was televised.
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Based on a true story. A film by Gus Van Sant, Starring Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha'la, Kelly Lynch, John Robinson, Vinh Nguyen, Mark Helms, Todd Gable, Michael Ashcraft, Neil Mulac, Daniel R. Hill, Colman Domingo, Dean Coutris, Maresha Robinson, Katie Kinman, Kyle Rankin, William Davis, Andy Allen, John N. Dixon, Jordan Claire Robbins, Elliot Gross, Aaron Massey, Don Overstreet, Casey Feigh, Stephanie Bertoni, Michael James Dukes, David Haight, Rita Hight, and Al Pacino.

Directed by American filmmaker Gus Van Sant from a screenplay by Austin Kolodney, DEAD MAN’S WIRE is a gripping crime thriller. The film is inspired by true events from February 1977, when Tony Kiritsis held the son of executive M.L. Hall hostage, demanding an apology and financial compensation.

DEAD MAN’S WIRE premiered at Biennale di Venezia on 2 September 2025. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 9 January 2026.