Directed by Bobby Boermans, known for his work on crime series like The Golden Hour and Mocro Maffia, “¡Hostage” plunges viewers into a harrowing recreation of the real-life hostage situation that paralyzed Amsterdam’s Leidseplein.
This is a tense thriller, unfolding over a few intense hours, with its power rooted in the editing and pacing. The script is solid, analyzing the situation from multiple perspectives and moving swiftly within the genre.
It’s entertaining, fast-paced, and well-produced – the perfect kind of film for a Friday night.
The Real-Life Amsterdam Incident
A 27-year-old man, identified as Abdel Rahman Akkad, dressed in camouflage clothing and armed with multiple firearms, entered the crowded Apple Store in Amsterdam’s Leidseplein. Akkad, reportedly an employee of a supermarket chain who used his work truck to get there, quickly escalated the situation, firing shots and claiming to have a bomb vest.
While many customers and employees managed to escape or hide, Akkad took several people hostage, singling out a 44-year-old Bulgarian man as his primary captive. For five agonizing hours, the city held its breath as police surrounded the building. Akkad demanded an astonishing €200 million (approximately £172 million at the time) in cryptocurrency and safe passage out of the city.
The standoff reached its climax when the Bulgarian hostage managed to escape. Akkad briefly pursued him outside the store, but police decisively intervened, running the assailant down with an armored vehicle. Akkad died in the hospital the following day from his injuries. Dutch police chief Frank Paauw later praised the Bulgarian man’s bravery.
Inside “¡Hostage”: Plot, Perspectives, and Gripping Tension
“¡Hostage” translates this real-world drama into a cinematic experience of just over an hour and a half. The plot follows Ilian (played by Admir Šehović), a Bulgarian man visiting Amsterdam for work who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. He enters the Apple Store just as the gunman (Soufiane Moussouli) begins his assault, quickly becoming the primary hostage.
The film employs a multi-reality narrative, successfully conveying the multiple angles of the event. The events are shown not only from Ilian’s terrifying perspective but also through the eyes of the increasingly desperate attacker, other hostages hidden in the store, and the police, including negotiator Lynn (Loes Haverkort), who works frantically outside to defuse the crisis.
One aspect we appreciated is that, despite being based on a true story, the film doesn’t attempt a documentary approach. It’s pure pace, action, and strong cinematic construction, constantly seeking the tension of the events, recreating characters, and capturing the agile essence of the classic hostage thriller.
“¡Hostage” is also a classic film that adheres to the genre. Without inventing anything new, it aims to entertain and amuse, delivering a spectacle of cinematic rhythm and ultimately becoming a thriller that leaves a good taste, without necessarily making a huge impact or feeling like a great film.
It fulfills its function with good production values and solid technical and directorial work.
However, it doesn’t take risks or offer anything we haven’t seen before.
Enjoy the film!
Where to Watch “¡Hostage”
