In Cinema, there are few who can afford a wider canvas (budget), and there are few who exhibit a wide range of emotions (indie films). The most wonderful movies you’ll see will manifest an accurate proportion of the two. Angelina Jolie starrer western thriller film Those Who Wish Me Dead displays grandeur, but for most of the part, it’s all about that. Let’s find out the story in it.
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ Summary
Hannah Faber (Angelina Jolie) is a forest firefighter in Montana. During a disastrous forest fire, she failed to save three kids from the flames, a memory that haunts her till today.
On the other side of the narrative, there are two hitmen namely, father Jack (Aidan Gillen) and his son, Patrick (Nicholas Hoult) who burn down a house in Florida. A news report reveals that the house belonged to District Attorney. Owen Casserly (Jake Weber) gets alarmed listening to the news and quickly takes his son, Connor, and runs away from the house.
During their road trip, Owen reveals to his son that he is a forensic accountant and recently they found some evidence against the government. According to him, these two assassins were working for the government and they killed the District Attorney (who was also Owen’s boss) in order to protect their sovereignty. Owen duplicated the evidence and therefore he is a target too.
Owen reaches out to his brother-in-law Ethan Sawyer (Jon Bernthal), a sheriff in Montana, who was also the ex of Hannah Faber. But as soon as Owen and his son reach Montana, the two hitmen shoot his car and it crashes down a cliff. Owen is killed but sends off his son with the duplicate evidence, who is later found by Hannah near the river.
Failing to accomplish the task in an absolute manner, Jack and Patrick request permission to create a catastrophe (burning down the forest) in order to create a diversion while they hunt the boy and finish him off.
Major Spoilers – if you haven’t seen the film, please don’t scroll ahead.
‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ Ending Explained
Most of the ending is related to “who survived the fire and who didn’t”. Hannah Faber bravely saves Connor by firstly killing the second hitman and then hiding in the water to prevent burns. She finally redeemed her past guilt of not being able to save those 3 kids of Connor’s age.
Sheriff Ethan’s pregnant wife Allison hunts down the other hitman with a deer rifle. She finds Ethan who was lying injured on a lookout tower. Allison called for smokejumper’s support but Ethan could see his end. They both embrace themselves, believing it to be their final moment. In the morning, when the fire extinguishes, smoke jumpers come for help. They only find Allison alive while Ethan is already dead.
Connor and Hannah wait for the media crew. Connor asks her what is going to happen with him once the secrets are revealed. Hannah promises to protect him from an uncertain future and in a way hints that she is going to adopt Connor for the better. Connor had lost both his mother and father and finally found a new home in Montana.
In Those Who Wish Me Dead, the exterior canvas is crisp, clear, and vibrant. But the interior canvas is unbearably fake and plastic (not suggesting the lead actress’ face who failed to act). In a very short review, it is a complete waste of time and money. If you haven’t seen it, please don’t see it. I am trying to figure out a way to unsee it.
Those Who Wish Me Dead is a 2021 western neo thriller film directed by Taylor Sheridan.
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