🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Taylor Sheridan
- Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Psychological Drama
- Release year: 2021
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 6.0/10 (154K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Angelina Jolie and a kid run from bad guys and a forest fire, but the fire is actually the good guy, trying to burn away the bad plot.
🍿 Those Who Wish Me Dead: Detailed Plot Synopsis
A Smoke Jumper Haunted by the Past
Hannah Faber (Angelina Jolie), a smoke jumper, is struggling with the guilt and trauma of a past incident where she failed to save a group of young campers and a fellow smoke jumper. Now stationed in a fire lookout tower in Montana, she’s trying to cope with her emotional scars by engaging in daring stunts.
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On the Run: A Father and Son Targeted
Owen Casserly (Jake Weber), a forensic accountant, realizes his boss’s death was a contracted killing. Fearing he’s next, he flees with his son, Connor (Finn Little). He seeks refuge with his brother-in-law, Ethan Sawyer (Jon Bernthal), a Deputy Sheriff, intending to expose evidence of corruption to the media.
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The Chase Begins
Ruthless assassins Jack (Aidan Gillen) and Patrick (Nicholas Hoult) are hired to silence Owen and retrieve the evidence. They ambush Owen and Connor, forcing their car off the road. Before being killed, Owen entrusts Connor with the crucial information, sending him on the run alone.
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Allies in the Wilderness
Hannah discovers Connor and takes him to her lookout tower for safety. The assassins, under orders to eliminate anyone who sees them, ignite a forest fire as a diversion. Ethan, alerted by a coded message from his pregnant wife Allison (Medina Senghore), rushes to protect her, leading to a deadly confrontation.
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⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Hannah (Angelina Jolie): A guilt-ridden smoke jumper battling past trauma who becomes determined to protect a young murder witness.
- Connor Casserly (Finn Little): A resourceful young boy on the run after witnessing his father’s murder, carrying crucial evidence.
- Patrick (Nicholas Hoult): One of the ruthless and efficient assassins tasked with silencing Connor and recovering the evidence.
- Jack (Aidan Gillen): The calculating and methodical partner of Patrick, equally determined to complete their deadly mission.
- Ethan (Jon Bernthal): A deputy sheriff and Hannah’s ex-boyfriend, determined to protect his family and help Connor.
- Allison (Medina Senghore): Ethan’s pregnant wife who displays unexpected strength and resilience in the face of danger.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Hannah: “I should have gone to them, and instead I was a coward.” – Hannah expresses her guilt over a past incident where she couldn’t save a group of children from a fire.
- Allison: “It hates you back.” – Allison responds to Jack when he says he hates the forest.
- Ethan: “You did good, baby.” – Ethan tells Allison that she did a good job after she kills one of the assassins.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $20,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $7,407,200
- Worldwide Gross: $19,107,200
💥 Those Who Wish Me Dead Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, so I went in expecting a total action fest with Angelina Jolie kicking butt, and while there’s some of that, it’s surprisingly more character-driven. I was really drawn into Hannah’s struggles with her past, and the kid, Finn Little, was fantastic. I really felt for him! The fire scenes were intense, especially the part where they hid under the water. It was a cool movie.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Angelina Jolie”
- “Viewers who enjoy suspenseful action thrillers set in wilderness locations”
- “Those who appreciate stories about survival and redemption”
- “People interested in films directed by Taylor Sheridan”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense violence and gunfights”
- “Some profanity”
- “Threatening situations involving a child”
- “Scenes depicting forest fires and their aftermath”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “While it boasts stunning Montana scenery and a committed performance from Angelina Jolie, ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ struggles to ignite due to a predictable plot and underdeveloped characters.
- IGN: “Those Who Wish Me Dead delivers a serviceable thriller experience. Jolie brings grit, while the action is competently staged, it never truly elevates beyond familiar genre tropes. The villains are menacing but lack depth.
- IndieWire: “Taylor Sheridan’s direction offers some tense moments, the movie feels strangely hollow. The plot is thin, the characters are underdeveloped and it doesn’t fully capitalize on its promising premise.
Audience Reactions
The kid actor steals the show.: Viewers praised the young actor, Finn Little, for his compelling performance.
Exciting and engaging: The intense action and beautiful scenery made for an exciting viewing experience.
Overall Consensus: While visually stunning and featuring strong performances, the movie’s familiar plot and lack of depth left some viewers underwhelmed.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The production team created a massive woodland set that they intentionally set ablaze under the supervision of real firefighters to ensure safety.”
- “Angelina Jolie met with several smokejumpers to gain insight into their experiences and the dangers they face.”
🖥️ How to Watch Those Who Wish Me Dead?
Those Who Wish Me Dead is available for streaming on platforms like HBO Max (subscription required). You can also rent or purchase the movie through various digital retailers, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options.
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🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Those Who Wish Me Dead, you might like these similar films:
- Wind River (2017): Also written by Taylor Sheridan, features a suspenseful thriller set against a stark wilderness backdrop with themes of survival and justice.
- The Fugitive (1993): A man wrongly accused must evade capture while uncovering the truth, similar to the escape and pursuit elements in ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’.
- Firestorm (1998): Another action film centered around a large forest fire and those trying to survive it.
- Hell or High Water (2016): Another movie written by Taylor Sheridan that involves crime in a rural area and two brothers struggling against the odds.
🛒 Those Who Wish Me Dead Related Products
- Those Who Wish Me Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Get the official soundtrack of ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ and relive the heart-pounding score. Features instrumental tracks and the song ‘Arkansas’ by Chris Stapleton
- Smokejumpers Wildland Firefighter T-Shirt: Show your appreciation for the brave smokejumpers with this tee shirt. Comfortable and durable, perfect for casual wear or outdoor adventures.
- Montana Wilderness Survival Guide: Equip yourself with the knowledge to survive in the wild. Packed with essential tips and techniques for navigating the wilderness, building shelters, and finding food.
- Firefighter Action Figure Set: A detailed firefighter action figure set for collectors. Features realistic uniforms and gear, perfect for display.
🎧 Soundtrack
Those Who Wish Me Dead features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The movie never explicitly reveals the exact nature of the evidence Owen Casserly possessed. It’s implied to be information exposing high-level corruption, leading to his boss’s murder and his own targeting.
Connor was targeted because he possessed copies of the evidence of corruption that his father was trying to expose. The assassins were hired to eliminate him to prevent the information from going public.
Yes, Ethan (Jon Bernthal) dies from his gunshot wounds sustained during the confrontation at the fire tower. His character’s death adds to the tragic elements of the story.
🔥 Bonus Content
SUSPIRIA (2018) Ending + Three Mothers Explained
Confused by the ending of Suspiria (2018)? This video breaks down the complex themes and explains the mystery of the Three Mothers. Honestly, it made the movie so much clearer for me!
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