Erbarmungslos

In my view the best Dutch movie ever! Although from the 'eighties' the suspense and atmosphere are unique (for Dutch standards . . .). Hidde Maas plays an excellent role and his one-liners are absolutely THE BEST and unsurpassed! This movie definitely deserves a bigger audience. Have watched it >10 times and can recommend it to everybody. Friends of mine who have seen Wildschut all agree, this is high quality and many of them have seen the movie a few times as well. The one-liners by Jim (Hidde Maas) are razor sharp, his role very well played and the other characters do a (very) good job as well. Apart from big Hollywood productions (obviously), I haven't seen a movie since that meets Wildschut. Watching it more than one time makes it even better.

(1985) Stronghold/ Wildschut (Game shelter) DUBBED THRILLER

Adapted from the novel by Felix Thijssen, a movie from the Netherlands that has Jim (Hidde Maas) and Charlie (Jack Monkau) taking a family farm and household hostage. It consists of a father, Deleye (Josse De Pauw); his wife, Sybil / Cybil (Chris Lomme); their oldest teenage son, Hugo (Mark Van Eeghem); the daughter, Lisa (Annick Christiaens) and baby Robbie. All the while during the army conducting their training exercise. While Jim is gruff and being very aggressive, it appears that Charlie has been shot on the leg, and as he is being carried to the bedroom, they figured as long as the family's baby stays close to them that they dare not try anything. And as it turns out, a casino has been robbed of $600,000 with the town's sheriff, Dalsom (Werther van der Sarren) out in pursuit for them.

It was routine until the last 20 minutes with some of the most ridiculous scenes is when the military show up to confront the two culprits without being scared or even arming themselves was one of the most dumbest things I had ever saw. And it was dumb stupid rotten convenient luck that the teenager, Hugo was caught attempting to steal the suitcase full of money from the back trunk. My impression from some of the users who did like it was that those asinine things happened as a result of filling time as it was supposed to be featured film.

Two Dutch gangsters in tuxedos are on the run after a robbery at a Casino. On their way to France they have to go into hiding in the farm of a poacher in Flanders. The plot of Wildschut aka Stronghold doesn't sound very original, but I don't know any other film like this Belgian-Dutch Thriller from 1985.

There's a lot in it. The storyline, based on a novel, is very strong, the acting, certainly by European standards of the 1980s, is phenomenal. Hidde Maas plays the role of his life as Jim the gangster! But in particular the filmography and the shooting style remain. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Italian Giallo thriller, with a lot of attention for both long shots and close ups. It also integrates the cold-blooded gangsters who, in their tuxedos, terrorize the poacher's family with automatic weapons in the middle of a hot summer. The chosen style of filming, which alternates arthouse elements with pulp action, also gives a lot of depth to the layered story. The chosen soundtrack is minimal, but it works very well.

Only downside: police officer Uncle Dalton delivers an unsuitable comic note in this story, probably this was to please the local Belgian market at the time. Because it seems as if this character was cast for a light hearted Flemish comedy with Urbanus or Gaston & Leo. But otherwise nothing but good about this one, a must for fans of European Thrillers from the 1980s.

In the second half of the last century, The Italians are generally known for making cheap but popular pulp movies such as spaghetti westerns, giallo and eurocrime films. This a Dutch/Belgian version of the latter. It looks cheap, is at times acted poorly but is highly entertaining. Especially Hidde Maas as the baddie is an almost over the top delight. Ending is a bit weak, rest is enjoyable as long as you are not expecting too much.

Superb Dutch/Belgian production. Saw it more than 10 times, and as far as I can remember one of the best Dutch flicks ever!!! Hidde Maas is one of Holland's most underrated actors! See it if you can find it, and tell me I am looking for it!