Wildschut

What a good surprise this little crime flick from Netherlands or Belgium, a gem from the eighties, as there was also in the same kind a German crime film; YEAR OF THE CAT. Very tense, no waste in the filming and a tremendous character direction. Xanks to Netflix to have provided such an item. The sheriff character is very surprising, as if it was a western feature and certainly not a Dutch one. I guess there are many of other films like this one, forgotten gems taking dust in distributors drawers.

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.

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!

(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.

I have seen the movie about 25 times and I know all the dialoges by head. For example: "Nou je toch bezig bent, voor mij met ham graag, dubbel gebakken" and "je hebt me helemaal nog niet, vreetzak!!" and "zie je nou wel bolle, toch nog met lege handen naar huis". The acting can be rated as toplevel. One actor which deserves special attention in this is HIDDE MAAS. The phrases he uses are exceptionell, and however not intended for this purpose it propagates enormous laughter by me till I get pain in the stomach.