Those Who Wish Me Dead: everything you need to know about the new Angelina Jolie movie

Have you got a date with Cineworld on May 19th? No doubt you're curious to know about our re-opening slate of films. (Click here for the full list.)

One of the films taking pride of place is Angelina Jolie thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead, which promises to restore your big screen experience with a blast of star power, fiery effects and survival drama. Scroll down to find out more.

 

1. It fuses a forest fire survival drama with a chase thriller

Hannah is a 'smokejumper' (a person who tackles forest fires). She is haunted by the memory of those people whom she failed to save. But she then comes across a young boy, Connor, who is a witness to a violent crime. This puts him in the sights of ruthless assassins Patrick and Jack Blackwell who will stop at nothing to silence the boy. Hannah and Connor flee into the Montana wilderness, only to find themselves caught in a blazing forest inferno threatens to burn everything to the ground.


2. It's the latest film from Taylor Sheridan

If you don't know the name then you certainly know his work. Sheridan first generated attention with his script for Sicario, the coolly engrossing Mexican cartel thriller that was directed with verve by Denis Villeneuve. The script established many of the hallmarks that we've come to know in Sheridan's writing: attention to procedural detail, a blurring of the lines between good and evil and an examination of ordinary individuals in extraordinary, often shockingly violent, circumstances.


These characteristics came into play again in 2016's Hell or High Water. Director David Mackenzie worked from Sheridan's script, bringing us a modern-day of outlaws in the dusty hinterlands of the American southwest. The film's attention to detail in both the characters and locations saw it top many a critic's 'Best of 2016' list. It also yielded Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges) and Best Film Editing.


After years of handing his material over to other filmmakers, in 2017, Sheridan stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut Wind River. The movie struck a decidedly more elegiac tone than either of Sheridan's previous projects, exploring the mysterious death of a Native American woman in the snowy wastes of the Wyoming Wind River reservation.


By this point, Sheridan had completed a hat-trick of superb projects. Can he make it a quartet with Those Who Wish Me Dead?


3. It's adapted by Michael Koryta from his own book

A former private investigator turned author, Michael Kortya is a noted writer of supernatural and thriller stories, and has been the recipient of numerous prizes including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. He now makes his screenwriting debut, adapting his own book Those Who Wish Me Dead. It's not unusual to see authors adapting their own material for the screen – Gillian Flynn did it with 2014's Gone Girl, yielding critical acclaim in the process. How Kortya's bestselling thriller survives on its journey to the cinema remains to be seen.


4. It has an excellent cast

Maleficent star Angelina Jolie plays heroic 'smokejumper' Hannah, and she fronts a strong cast of memorable faces. Playing the psychotic sibling assassins: Nicholas Hoult (The Favourite) and Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones). Also featuring in the movie: Jon Bernthal (who starred in both Sicario and Wind River), Tyler Perry (Gone Girl) and Tory Kittles (True Detective). Meanwhile, newcomer Finn Little plays the imperilled Connor. 

That's quite the eclectic line-up for a story of good versus evil and man versus nature, mixing up established stars with promising breakout actors.


5. It's one of Cineworld's re-opening movies on May 19th

Those Who Wish Me Dead features prominently on our re-opening slate this May. (Discover the full list of Cineworld movie releases.) Let us know @Cineworld if you've got a date with your local cinema.