IHostage (2025)

IHostage (2025)

When an armed man storms an Apple Store in the heart of Amsterdam, the police find themselves in a tricky situation as they try to resolve the crisis.

Let’s start with a scathing review I read: “I’ve rarely seen such a terrible movie. It tries to show us all the stereotypes that the news channels feed us. But in the end, the movie never reveals the reasons behind the hostage situation or who or what drove the perpetrator to commit it. The scenes drag on in a film that’s completely empty from start to finish.”

So, yes, absolutely, you could easily say it’s a pointless dud, a ridiculous hostage situation, an old-fashioned movie just meant to peddle old clichés—and we don’t need it, because we already have the news channels doing that job. We could even go further and say: ridiculous plot—the guy demands 200 million in Bitcoin and goes to an Apple Store? Why not an Indian grocery store?!

But people who make these kinds of comments have forgotten that there’s real life and there’s cinema. Sure, reality sometimes surpasses fiction, but in real life, we don’t have soldiers running in slow motion, ninjas coming in and doing flips, or a badass who manages to take down an entire army of criminals all by himself with just a scratch… or who manages to run despite a serious injury—like a truck crushing his leg—but he still manages to run! Anyway!

No, this is based on real events that were truly shocking, because a terrorist attack or hostage situation always leaves a lasting impression and, unfortunately, puts the country in question in the spotlight. And it’s something that’s supposed to be a very long and drawn-out process. It’s no walk in the park, and I find it downright tragic to have to point that out!

Bobby Boermans had already directed “The Golden Hour” as a TV series. He’s back with this film, which explores the same theme of terrorism set in the heart of a Dutch city. Since he’s found his niche and developed his signature style, he’s once again delivering this style of real-time cinema that stays as close to reality as possible. It’s yet another ultra-realistic film featuring a large-scale police operation. Okay, sure, there’s always a slight element of scripted staging to make the story more gripping. But at its core, this tale of a hostage situation with a ransom demand is based on a true story, which forces the director to stick to the actual facts.

In my opinion, the result is very successful. I was captivated from start to finish, mainly thanks to the constant tension the film manages to create—which I really felt. This format, shorter than a series, leaves no room for any drag or boredom. It moves at full speed, as if we’re experiencing the events live. I really like this style, especially when it’s well-crafted and executed with talent.

We even get to see what the hooded squad in the Netherlands looks like! It’s interesting to see who they call on when dealing with very serious crimes and homicides. These people have lives, too… and sometimes have to leave their families in a hurry without knowing if they’ll ever see them again.

Despite everything, the film manages, in a short time, to evoke sympathy for several of its characters. Beyond the action, the fear, the threat, and the relative coldness of the procedure, there are people—and almost all of them are brought to the forefront. This gives the film a certain depth by adding a touch of emotion.

If you like “iHostage,” be sure to check out “The Golden Hour” by the same director.