iHostage

For a Dutch movie, it was really impressive. There are not many Dutch movies that are this strong. The acting of most actors was really good. However, they rushed some scenes and took their time with others.

Seeing how all of this went from the insider and outsider perspective, instead of only from the media, was a nice point of view. The main parts that were in the media were also in the movie, what I personal really liked.

However, I would have preferred some scenes to be shorter, and others (like the ending of the movie) to be a bit longer.

But besides all of this, it was a really good movie. It is something I didn't expect for a Dutch movie!!! Impressive.

A suicide bomber takes a hostage in an Apple Store.

This was based on a real event. Maybe this is riveting to Dutch people, but I found it a bit lifeless in spots. The story is interesting, but the parts that involve the hostages sometimes feel like cheap dramatic reenactments on a TV show. These scenes could have been nail-biters. The intensity just wasn't there, though.

The scenes with the police were better, I thought. They got to move around more and didn't have to constantly act terrified. More scenes with the police might have helped the movie move along a bit. Some of the scenes with the hostages were tense, though, and I thought they handled one scene in particular well, where there was a potential medical emergency.

We never really learn a lot about any of the characters, and the drama isn't exactly the most intense thing ever. It's an adequate time-passer on Netflix, though. As a bonus, the English dub is pretty good.

As a Dutch guy, iHostage hit differently. I remembered the real story from the news, and seeing it dramatized was both fascinating and frustrating. The movie is suspenseful from start to finish. There's a constant feeling of unease, especially because it's so grounded in something that actually happened.

What stands out is how it highlights the failures of the Dutch police response. You want to believe these situations are handled professionally, but what the movie shows is a lack of preparation and decisive action. It's sad but, unfortunately, realistic. The story itself is well-acted and well-paced. You stay locked in because you know this isn't fiction-it's a reflection of real incompetence. Definitely worth watching, especially for Dutch viewers.

I think the movie does achieve some thrilling atmosphere in the beginning, but fails to maintain that as it gets repetitive. It has some good elements to it, a few good actors (but a weak script), and the setting is good. However, very poor attempts at tough-sounding one-liners are made, as well as powerplay moves that make no sense, which give the movie a cringe vibe. Also, characters are weak and shallow, testosterone-driven, and not in a good way-they come across as thick and egocentric. Shame, it's such an interesting non-fiction event, but it absolutely fails to reach its potential. I'd recommend watching the documentary.

Overall I liked learning more about this real life event. However, the actual movie wasn't the best as most other commenters have mentioned. Perhaps the lack of emotion in the voice dubs did it an injustice.

Some things weren't necessary - pizza for the cops, the one who didn't like leaving his wife and kids behind to go do his job.

I did enjoy seeing behind the scenes for an operation like this. And the way they worked together with different units to keep the guy distracted and keep everyone informed.

Wish there was more back story instead on the perp, the main hostage and the 4 in the closet.