The World Has Been Sleeping On This Brutal Taylor Sheridan Neo-Western For 5 Years & Counting

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Taylor Sheridan dominates the modern Western genre, but one of his films has been surprisingly overlooked. With the success of Yellowstone and its spin-offs, plus new projects like the action thriller F.A.S.T., Sheridan continues to be one of the busiest and most successful filmmakers working today.

Despite a promising start, Taylor Sheridan has only directed three films so far. He doesn’t consider his debut, Vile, to be truly his work, as he was primarily assisting a friend. While his second film, Wind River, is a standout neo-western, his most recent film hasn’t received much attention.

Taylor Sheridan’s Those Who Wish Me Dead Is His Most Underseen Neo-Western

The movie Those Who Wish Me Dead is adapted from Michael Koryta’s novel of the same name. It stars Angelina Jolie as a smokejumper who finds herself protecting a young boy from two dangerous assassins (Nic Hoult and Aiden Gillen). As they try to escape, they’re also battling a massive wildfire.

The movie Those Who Wish Me Dead blends the action of films like Die Hard with the feel of a classic Western. Though it takes place today, its simple story, traditional themes, and the stunning Montana setting create a strong Western vibe.

The movie successfully blends a classic feel with a contemporary style, showcasing Taylor Sheridan’s talent for both realistic dialogue and exciting action sequences. It includes some of his most impressive scenes, like a thrilling fight between Angelina Jolie and Jack Hoult’s characters as a wildfire closes in around them.

Sheridan gathered a talented cast, and Gillen and Hoult were particularly unsettling as the cold-blooded killers. Jon Bernthal and Medina Senghore truly stood out as a sheriff’s deputy and his pregnant wife, who unexpectedly find themselves caught up in the trouble.

Those Who Wish Me Dead Didn’t Stand A Chance At The Box Office

Considering Taylor Sheridan’s current success, it’s surprising how quickly his film Those Who Wish Me Dead has been forgotten. A big reason for this is likely its release date – May 2021, when many people were still hesitant to go to movie theaters due to the pandemic.

The thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead didn’t get much help from Warner Bros., who didn’t do a lot to promote it. Adding to the challenge, it was released on HBO Max at the same time as in theaters. While the film earned over $23 million—roughly covering its $20 million production cost (according to Box Office Mojo)—it didn’t generate much excitement on the streaming platform either.

The movie received somewhat mixed reviews and was released during a very busy time for films, with Mortal Kombat 2021 coming out just the week before. Ultimately, the timing couldn’t have been worse for Those Who Wish Me Dead to attract viewers.

Those Who Wish Me Dead Deserves To Be Rediscovered

Taylor Sheridan has been incredibly busy with his television work, thanks to hits like Yellowstone, 1883, and Lioness. While Wind River continues to gain fans over time, his film Those Who Wish Me Dead seems to be fading from memory, which is unfortunate because it’s a well-made thriller.

This action movie is sharp, intense, and features strong performances, skillfully directed. It didn’t get the attention it deserved when it came out in 2021, but it has the potential to find a new audience. A release on a streaming service at the right time could introduce it to fans, particularly those who already enjoy Taylor Sheridan’s television shows.

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2026-02-27 02:42