Forteresse

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.