Interview - Cold Wallet: Inside the Crypto Crime Thriller with Melonie Diaz & Raúl Castillo

By Mulder, Los Angeles, 26 february 2025

In an era where digital wealth can vanish in an instant, Cold Wallet taps into the anxieties surrounding cryptocurrency and financial deception, transforming them into a taut and suspenseful crime thriller. Directed by Cutter Hodierne, the film follows a desperate group of investors—played by Raúl Castillo, Melonie Diaz, and Tony Cavalero—who take matters into their own hands after being scammed out of their life savings. But what begins as a mission for justice quickly spirals into a psychological battle of manipulation and survival. With its sharp social commentary and relentless tension, Cold Wallet delivers a modern thriller that reflects the fragility of financial security in the digital age. We had the chance to speak with director Cutter Hodierne and lead actors Raúl Castillo and Melonie Diaz about the film’s timely themes, its gripping intensity, and the emotional depths of their performances.

Q: Hi Melonie, Eva is the most tech-savvy and strategic character, but her motivations remain somewhat mysterious. How did you shape her backstory and drive in your performance ?

Melonie: I think the backstory is—she was saying this earlier—that originally, it was her grandmother or something like that, and she needed money to help her. So that was kind of the drive in organizing this group of people to get their money back. I think she's a person who has been down and out for a while, economically struggling. You know, she's probably worked three jobs, and she's mad at the man. She wants to get what's rightfully hers and also, you know, justice. She feels like these people deserve justice, and that was a big part of what drove her in the film.

Q: Hi Raúl, Billy is a father whose desperation drives him to drastic actions. How did you tap into his emotional journey and the weight of his decisions ?

Raúl: You know, it's interesting because Zoe Winters, who plays Billy's wife and shows up early in the script, came on the last day of shooting. Her scene was literally on the last day we shot, and she came in and absolutely crushed this role. Even with just one scene, she gave so much history to this relationship and to Billy's motivation, which isn't just about his daughter but also about showing everyone that he can come out on top and do right by his family.

I think he's got a real chip on his shoulder. You can't really play that as an actor—I mean, I think he always feels like his goals and his needs are very righteous, and that's what motivates him and gives him urgency. Certainly, his urge to come out on top and be a hero for his daughter is a big motivating factor. And that was—I mean, that's all there in the script. Cutter gave us such great tools to work with as actors, and Billy was such a fun character to play because his motivations were always so clear.

Q: Melonie, Eva starts as the one with the plan, but things spiral quickly. How did you navigate her transition from being in control to facing unexpected challenges ?

Melonie: I mean, yeah, I think that Eva has been kind of like the mastermind of the plan, and then when things go wrong, she’s completely thrown off. I think, just like the character, she doesn’t know what’s happening—she gets shot, she’s hurt. It was really fun to play someone who feels like she knows what’s going to happen, knows how to handle the situation, and then, all of a sudden, she’s running for her life. It was a really fun, unexpected thing to play.

Q: Raúl, Billy’s belief in cryptocurrency is ultimately his downfall. Do you see him as a victim of financial systems, or does he bear responsibility for his own fate ?

Raúl: I mean, in some way, I guess it's both. I think he's a victim of the system that's already established—it's not meant to uplift people like him. And then, ultimately, his desperation leads him to look for this quick fix that isn’t really there. At the end of the day, that’s embodied by Hegel, Josh Brenner's character, who is this crook looking to make money off the little man, which I think is very emblematic of the current state of affairs in this country.

Q: The film’s premise feels ripped from the headlines, especially with real-world financial scandals. How much of the story was inspired by actual events ?

Raúl: Well, you know, I remember talking to Cutter about this when I was first approaching the script and the project. There was a documentary out about the crypto world and people getting scammed out of their money. So it's very much based on research that they had done. Cutter has a documentary background, so I feel like he does a fair share of research, and I think a lot of it is pulled from real events.

Melonie: Wasn't there somebody in the town who was responsible for taking money, and then he ended up being part of the research while we were filming or something like that? I forget his name. So we were filming the movie, and there was this guy who was responsible for that, and we were like, "Oh, you know, art versus life—art creates life" kind of thing.

Q: The dynamic between Billy, Dom, and Eva constantly shifts as tensions rise. How did you and your co-stars work together to create those evolving relationships ?

Raúl: I mean, I think it's always—Cutter just, you know—I think so much is in the casting. If you cast well, and people are able to bring their authentic selves and play off each other, that's kind of the best formula for a good film. I think Cutter and his producers did such a good job putting this great team together—Tony Cavalero, Josh Brener, Melonie, of course, and everyone else who came in. It was a wonderful group of people, and I think that made it really easy. When you cast well, it just works.

Q: What can you tell us about your collaboration with director Cutter Hodierne ?

Melonie: He is so nice, he's so nice, and he's so easy to work with. I think he really mentioned that he has a very documentary-style background, so I think it's very much in the moment—like what feels right, you know? There's a certain amount of planning, but it is still very organic. And I think, for me personally, that's my favorite kind of environment to work in because, I mean, you have a script that's like the Bible, but also, as actors, you're able to play, and you're given the freedom to play. I think that when you create that kind of safety for a cast, great things happen, and I think Cutter is really good at that.

Synopsis:
A team of Redditors lose everything after a cryptocurrency scam leads them to plot to kidnap the “financial influencer” who screwed them over.

Cold Wallet
Directed by Cutter Hodierne
Written by John Hibey
Produced by John Hibey, Benjamin Wiessner, Cutter Hodierne
Starring Raúl Castillo, Melonie Diaz, Tony Cavalero, Josh Brener, Zoe Winters
Cinematography: Oliver Millar
Edited by Kate Hickey
Music by Andrew Silagy, Patrick Taylor, Maciej Zieliński
Production company: Vanishing Angle
Distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment
Release dates: March 8, 2024 (SXSW), February 28, 2025 (United States)
Running time: 93 minutes