iHostage

I love how so many people on here are complaining about the fact that there was no explanation about the hostage taker's motive, his Arabic name, the little details there are about the hostage, etcetera. Meanwhile this movie is based on real events and it's simply a mystery what his motives were (because it was never found out, duh!). The hostage taker literally had a Syrian ethnicity (news flash: people with around 180 different ethnical backgrounds live in the Netherlands and many have very thick Dutch local accents, because they were born and raised here). The hostage decided to stay anonymous after the event, so there is little known about him, except that he's from Bulgaria. So they made a movie about facts. They followed the literal storyline as much as possible. But it's not sensational enough? It needed a bit more drama, or... well, lies? Reality can't have plot holes, just missing facts.

Oh and for the ones saying: I'd rather have watched an actual documentary, with actual statements from people who were there. So..? Go do that then. That documentary already came out over a year ago. You can't blame anyone for not knowing, except yourself. Some people don't like documentaries. Now they can watch this movie and also learn about what happened that day.

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.

Let's get this straight: iHostage is a gloriously chaotic, brainless thrill ride that I can only describe as a "watchable shi* movie" - and I mean that as a compliment. This Dutch Netflix thriller, inspired by the 2022 Amsterdam Apple Store hostage crisis, delivers exactly what you'd expect from a high-octane crime drama: relentless action, sweaty-palm tension, and a premise that keeps you glued to the screen. But don't go looking for a deep plot or clever twists - this movie is as shallow as a kiddie pool and proud of it.

From the jump, iHostage throws you into the deep end. A gunman storms an Apple Store, takes a Bulgarian dude named Ilian hostage, and demands 200 million dollars in crypto. The setup is simple, and the film leans hard into the claustrophobic vibe of a single-location thriller. Director Bobby Boermans cranks up the intensity with CCTV-style shots and body-cam footage, making you feel like you're right there in the chaos. The action never lets up - from gunfire to tense standoffs to awkward pizza deliveries (yes, really), it's a nonstop adrenaline shot. Loes Haverkort as the negotiator Lynn is a standout, balancing cool-headed smarts with the stress of talking down a volatile gunman. The pacing is so relentless you barely have time to notice the flaws.

And oh, the flaws. The plot? Basically nonexistent. It's a straight line from start to finish: guy takes hostage, cops try to fix it, rinse, repeat. Don't expect any mind-bending twists or profound character arcs - the script is thinner than an iPhone screen. The gunman's motives? Who cares, apparently, because we never find out. The characters are flat as cardboard, and the dialogue is so cliché it feels like it was ripped from a B-movie playbook. Yet, somehow, this lack of depth works in its favour. IHostage doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. It's not here to make you think; it's here to make your heart race.

What makes this a 5-star guilty pleasure is how shamelessly it embraces its own absurdity. The tension is real - you'll be on edge wondering if everyone makes it out alive. The action sequences, while not exactly Die Hard-level, are gritty and engaging enough to keep you hooked. It's the kind of movie you watch with a bucket of popcorn, yelling at the screen when something dumb happens, but loving every second of it. For fans of mindless thrillers like Phone Booth or Drop, it's a perfect Friday night flick.

In short, iHostage is a hot mess of a movie that knows exactly what it's doing: delivering pure, unfiltered chaos with zero pretense. No plot, no twists, just action and tension turned up to eleven. Watch it, love it, forget it by morning.

I looked forward to viewing this film. I enjoy foreign films. American tv is over produced and the writing is often not stellar. But European films and episodics tend to be gritier and more realistic. Grounded acting and real looking people who are not overly groomed. But Ihostage felt American, especially the constant music which turned it into melodrama and sentimentalized the story. The dialogue was often over written, as though they were explaining info to a not very bright audience. Dog Day Afternoon this is not. The great acting of Pacino, Cazale, Durning, etc. Reminds one how far films can go. Although I enjoyed ihostage overall, i certainly hoped for more.

IHostage is based on a true story that once dominated the Dutch headlines, which immediately gives the movie a certain weight. Unfortunately, it never really digs deeper than a surface-level retelling. While the events themselves are inherently dramatic, the film fails to explore the emotional or psychological layers that could have made it truly gripping.

Characters remain flat, and there's little insight into their motivations or inner struggles. The code word felt clumsy and unrealistic, seriously undermining the tension. Overall, a missed opportunity to turn a powerful story into a decent movie.