The action film genre is constantly trying to reinvent itself, top itself, and find new ways to thrill audiences. There are certain tropes, however, that you'll likely see play out in most iterations of this type of film. We usually see a hero haunted by a tragedy from his past, where a person or a group of people died as a result of a difficult choice made by him. The hero gets a chance to redeem himself when a new challenge comes his way. In director Taylor Sheridan's combustive thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead, the hero is actually a heroine. The story concerns Hannah Faber, a Montana-based smokejumper who can't get over the deaths of several people during an out of control forest fire her team was trying to contain. She blames herself for their deaths in the out of control conflagration.
Hannah's ex-boyfriend Ethan, a deputy sheriff, tries to get her to deal with her guilt, but she lives on the edge and is something of a loose cannon. Meanwhile, Owen Casserly, a forensic accountant, discovers that some people close to him have died in a mysterious explosion. Owen realizes the mob boss he worked for is eliminating those who could offer evidence that would put him in jail. Owen goes on the run with his son Connor. When Owen is killed by assassins sent by his former boss, Connor goes on the run, and he meets up with Hannah, who's stationed in a fire lookout tower.
Of course, Hannah ends up helping Connor evade the hit men, and Ethan lands in their crossfire as well. There's also a super-sized fire (set by the assassins as a distraction) to contend with, and Hannah has to use all her skills to save Connor and survive the deadly inferno. Those Who Wish Me Dead doesn't blaze any new trails in the action genre, but Taylor Sheridan's excellent direction helps propel the film, and keeps you interested throughout. Sheridan is perhaps best known for writing two well-received thrillers, Sicario and Hell or High Water, and for co-creating the TV series Yellowstone. He co-wrote the screenplay along with Charles Leavitt and Michael Koryta, based on Koryta's novel.
Angelina Jolie is excellent as the resourceful Hannah, and gives the character a bit more shading than usual in this type of thriller. She has good chemistry with her young co-star Fin Little, who plays Connor. The supporting players include Jon Bernthal as Ethan, and Jake Weber as Owen. Nicholas Hoult and Aidan Gillen are quite effective as the dangerous and driven hit men. Tyler Perry has a cameo as their boss. Media Senghore is very effective in her role as Ethan's wife, who gives the assassins a bigger challenge than they expected; appearances can be deceiving.
Those Who Wish Me Dead is an exciting, well-directed action film with a talented cast. The movie has a sharp and energetic visual style, courtesy of director Sheridan, cinematographer Ben Richardson and editor Chad Galster. It's the kind of fast-paced, well-made popcorn flick where you don't start asking too many questions about its believability before it ends. If you're looking for an enjoyably old-fashioned thriller that will hold your interest, but doesn't overstay it's welcome, Those Who Wish Me Dead should fit the bill.The movie is currently in theaters, and is also streaming on HBO Max until June 13. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kciXOTguPCs.
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