As a writer and filmmaker, Taylor Sheridan has built a small but impressive resume of movie about the American wilderness, the troubled people who attempt to keep order in it and the troubling folks making their lives miserable. After writing two twin winners with Sicario and Hell or High Water, Sheridan started directing his scripts like Wind River and the Yellowstone series. Now, he’s here with the Angelina Jolie vehicle Those Who Wish Me Dead, and it looks very on brand.
Jolie is Hannah Faber, a survival expert in Montana who is haunted by a rescue mission that went awry years ago. Now, she’s burdened with another life to save, if she can stay ahead of Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones) who appear to want the kid dead for reasons unknown. Tyler Perry of all people is here too, though whether he’s trying to kill or save Jolie remains to be seen. Oh, and Officer Jon Bernthal is here too. Pretty stacked cast.
Sheridan sees violence as a sort of universal language, one of the foundational truths of reality, so it’s no surprise that this looks to feature plenty of gun play and a deliberately set forest fire. That gives Sheridan the opportunity to employ lots of exciting setpieces — something he’s got a knack for — but happy endings are not guaranteed in his universe, so don’t get your hopes to high about this being a feel-good “movies are back!” moment.
