Inconsistent tones short change what could have been a gripping, contemporary story.
A home invasion movie with a tech twist, writer-director Cutter Hodierne’s flick tells the story of a trio of Redditors who lose everything after a cryptocurrency scam.
Billy (Raúl Castillo), Eva (Melonie Diaz) and Dom (Tony Cavalero) then decide to take drastic action and plot to kidnap the “financial influencer”, Josh Brener’s Charles Hegel , who conned them.
Cold Wallet has a fascinating concept with contemporary undertones in a world where many financial transactions are digital.
Unfortunately, Hodierne’s film never gets out of second gear predominately due to its inconsistent – and often bizarre – tone.
One minute it’s trying to be serious with life-affirming messages and Billy trying to safeguard his daughter’s future, the next ineffective comedy gets wheeled out.
Dom is responsible for much of the latter and Cavalero’s grating, fitness-obsessed character feels like he has popped in from a Coen brothers movie.
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At least he and Billy have some form of backstory, though; Diaz’s spiky but under-utilised Eva mainly only serves to come between her male counterparts.
The central home invasion just leaves you thinking of better executed similar fare like Panic Room and Don’t Breathe .
Brener’s rakish Charles does his best to manipulate his attackers, and the situation, but it’s only when the invaders’ amateurish, unprepared actions spill over into clumsy violence that the tension begins to pick up.
The winter setting only seems to exist to be a pun on the flick’s title as it adds next-to-nothing until the shocking but not really matching the overall tone final scene.
Hodierne and co-writer John Hibey introduce a couple of race-against-the-clock elements, however the sense of urgency never kicks into high gear.
Cold Wallet is crushed by contrasting tones and short changes what could have been a gripping and cautionary tale to leave you feeling out of pocket.
● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.
Samantha Foster got in touch to say: “I wasn’t sure what to think going into watching Better Man but, somehow, Robbie Williams as a monkey works!
“The story is great and I loved how they performed the songs.”
● Cold Wallet is available to buy or rent on Sky Store.
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