Taylor Sheridan’s second film of 2021 comes in the form of “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” an action/thriller starring Angelina Jolie as Hannah, a smokejumper who must keep a young boy named Connor (Finn Little) safe from two men who are after him in the middle of a forest fire.
Yet another theatrical/HBO Max hybrid release, the film comes to us from Sheridan, writer of the critically-acclaimed “Sicario,” “Hell or High Water,” and “Wind River.” Most recently, he co-wrote “Without Remorse,” a mediocre revenge film that missed the mark. However, this film is a slight improvement. It may not be the most impressive film he’s made; but he pulls off a tightly-written, exciting thriller that accomplishes its goals in an unconventional fashion.
This film excels in the subtlety of its writing. An early scene shows us Patrick (Nicholas Hoult) and Jack Blackwell (Aidan Gillen) knocking on a woman’s door and entering. The single-shot scene right after is the duo exiting, with their dialogue slowly revealing what happened inside the house.
Much of the first act sets up the tone the film is going for, which isn’t so much adrenaline-fueled popcorn entertainment but quieter, grounded suspense. It has that in common with “Remorse,” but it works much better in this film. Part of this may be due to Sheridan’s steady hand behind the camera; he directs the violence and action in ways that feel both exciting and simple. His locked down and handheld shots are sprinkled throughout the film, and they work well.
Further, the first act sets up the characters very nicely. Our protagonist, Hannah, is a smokejumper who puts out wildland fires. She stands out amongst her crew as a woman, and a slightly crazy one; however, she also deals with PTSD after a firefighting accident. She’s easy to get behind her as a protagonist, with a backstory and a personality that makes her stand out. Jolie portrays her character very well, and it’s wonderful to see her feel so natural as this person.
The other main character is Connor, the boy Hannah is protecting. Finn Little gives a performance nothing short of fantastic as this kid who no longer has a mother and finds himself on the run from these men. He spends the film grieving, and it’s wonderful to see Hannah and Connor bond. Jon Bernthal and Medina Senghore also appear in the film as Ethan and Allison Sawyer, a couple caught in the deadly cat-and-mouse game. The film could have focused more on these two, and it may have been even better. Sheridan makes sure not to waste them, giving them a compelling purpose in the plot.
Our set of villains are not the most memorable or developed; however, their commitment, intelligence, and violence give them terrifying presence through the film. Tyler Perry cameos as their leader in a scene that could have been taken out entirely, but the Blackwells are good enough as the film’s antagonists. Sheridan does an excellent job of balancing out action scenes with the character moments without ever giving the film any overt setups, payoffs, or character arcs. It’s not the most conventional experience, but these wonderful choices make the movie even better.
While “Those Who Wish Me Dead” doesn’t have too much to boast about in terms of spectacle or its final act, it works due to beautiful cinematography, watchable performances, and its consistent tone of dread that allows for this to be a harrowing thriller.
