The crypto revenge thriller Cold Wallet will premiere this week on Digital and in theaters following its SXSW premiere.
The story plunges viewers into the volatile world of cryptocurrency and vigilante justice. After a devastating cryptocurrency scam leaves them penniless, a determined group of Redditors hatches a desperate plan. They are on a mission to kidnap the kingpin responsible for their financial ruin. However, their home invasion quickly spirals into a nightmarish ordeal, transforming them from pursuers to prey in a sadistic game.
Cutter Hodierne directs the film written by John Hibey. Cold Wallet stars Raul Castillo (Smile 2), Melonie Diaz (“Charmed”), Tony Cavalero (“The Righteous Gemstones”), Josh Brener (“Silicon Valley”), and Zoe Winters (“Succession”).
Director Cutter Hodierne explains the film’s inspiration: “We’re all being screwed by the financial institutions around us, and finally here’s a group of characters actually getting back at that institution on behalf of all of us. In early 2021, when the frenzy around GameStop’s surging stock was national news, I became enamored by this grassroots Meme-movement that was threatening to upend the entire way our society invests in the markets. There was a collective daydream that average everyday people were changing the financial system and perhaps, for once, sticking it to the man. But of course, we were wrong.”
He continues, “What followed was a wave of online get-rich-quick schemes and an endless barrage of new digital currencies, each one promising us a chance to lift ourselves up and win like the big guys. An express lane to the American dream, all at your fingertips on your smartphone. But were we investing? Or was our culture experiencing a collective gambling addiction? Why was our society so ripe for this? And what would happen when yet again, that house of cards came crashing down on the little guys? I even co-produced a documentary on this subject, ‘This is Not Financial Advice,’ that premiered at Tribeca last summer.”
Cold Wallet, opening in select theaters on February 28, explores themes of economic inequality, digital vulnerability, and the allure of quick riches in a society increasingly reliant on technology. The thrillers’ blend of crime thriller elements with a contemporary social commentary promises to resonate with audiences grappling with the complexities of the modern financial landscape.
