Those Who Wish Me Dead Review: A 90s Style Action Thriller In Modern Times

Release date: May 14, 2021
Running time: 97 minutes
Directed By: Taylor Sheridan
Written By: Michael Koryta, Charles Leavitt
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Finn Little, Aiden Gillen, Jon Bernthal

A smoke jumper and a 12-year-old boy fight for their lives as two assassins pursue them through the wilderness.

Those Who Wish Me Dead feels like a throwback to a different time of moviemaking, and that is perfectly fine.  The movie is clearly inspired by 90s action thrillers and it feels good watching something like that.  The story barely makes sense, the villains will stop at nothing to get what they want, and everything seems to come together in this difficult journey.  And on top of that, the acting is just a little overdramatic and the effects are just a little over the top.  Altogether it translates into a fun throwback experience that will have you rooting for the good guys.

And on top of being a fun experience, Those Who Wish Me Dead also has plenty of star power.  Angelina Jolie is her usual self, although in this movie she gets to rely more on her motherly instincts as she watches out for her young ward.  She is a strong and respected female smokejumper and helps to lead the film and the adventure.  And this translates into a strong female lead, but one that is not an action star.  Aiden Gillen has carved himself quite a niche playing a gentleman thug, and this film is no exception.  He is charismatic and unpredictable, keeping you a little on edge whenever he needs to do something.  Gillen is accompanied by Nicholas Hoult, who backs him up but seems to not be as ruthless as the more experienced assassin.  And Jon Bernthal is also his normal self, a gruff slightly unpredictable law man who is trying to stop the assassins.

And Those Who Wish Me Dead's flaws are related to its strengths.  It is a 90s style action thriller, so the plot doesn't really make sense when you break it down, but it provides enough to keep the action moving.  And the situations, likewise, are very convenient but that is the style as well.  And also, the characters don't change much or evolve.  Overall though, Those Who Wish Me Dead will give you an hour and a half of entertainment, action, and overall enjoyment.  

Those Who Wish Me Dead is an enjoyable 90s-style action thriller with all the good and bad that comes from that.

Watch it.

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Those Who Wish Me Dead is available in theaters and on HBO Max on May 14, 2021.  It will leave HBO Max in mid June.  For tickets to see it in theaters, click here. 

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