Taylor Sheridan’s “Those Who Wish Me Dead” is a nice, neatly packed vehicle that hearkens back to the simpler thrillers from the 1990’s and doesn’t really demand too much from her. Back in the decade, this movie probably would have been headlined by someone like Ashley Judd or some such. In either case, “Those Who Wish Me Dead” isn’t entirely an original or groundbreaking film, but as a solid and reliable thriller, it works. And it works damn well once it gets moving.
Still reeling from the loss of three lives, Hannah is a smoke jumper who’s perched in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness. She soon encounters Connor, a skittish boy who’s bloodied, traumatized and on the run in the remote forest. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she’s unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers hunting Connor, and a fiery blaze consuming everything in its path.
Much of “Those Who Wish Me Dead” doesn’t require a ton of set up as the film sinks in to sheer simplicity once the villains of the piece show up, and display sheer ruthlessness. Taylor Sheridan’s film is a hefty throwback to movies like “Witness,” and “A Lonely Place to Die” where we’re heavily reliant on a grizzled hero with PTSD who has to overcome personal hurdles. Jolie’s performance is very respectable, and Sheridan evokes a lot from Jolie, whose flawed heroine is engaging. She packs enough trauma and sadness to make her a protagonist we can relate to, and she’s one we also kind of worry about as the high stakes present themselves to her. I spent the last few years completely writing off Angelina Jolie movies for the fact she’s been consistently abysmal.
But “Those Who Wish Me Dead” is thankfully a return to form for her. Jolie is complimented by a damn good supporting cast that consists of a strong performance by Finn Little, and memorable villain turns by Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult. The movie is stolen, though, by Jon Bernthal and Medina Senghore, the latter of whom becomes an even more engaging and emotionally engrossing heroine once she’s introduced. Senghore is given a ton of great material and dramatic moments to work with (including one excellent scene in a cabin), and she is absolutely outstanding. I was often more emotionally involved with Bernthal and Senghore’s characters more than Jolie’s most of the time. “Those Who Wish Me Dead” is probably the most competent thriller of 2021 so far. It doesn’t break new ground, but it’s a great thriller with a strong cast.
Now in Theaters and Streaming on HBO Max.