Hostage
The leader of a South African Nation is imprisoned. His followers, led by Zabo, hijack a plane with the intent to use the passengers as hostages to trade for his release. They select a plane carrying a religious leader to use as their main hostage. They soon learn that they have an added bonus of the daughter and grandson of Colonel Shaw, a bigwig in the country. The grandson all the while has to cope with the dual problems of being hijacked and held hostage while needing a kidney transplant. The hijackers have everything in their favor, except that the colonel's daughter is the sweetheart of Major Sam Striker. Striker puts together a band of mercenaries and sets about freeing the hostages.
Insights
Plot Summary
A cynical, disgraced former detective is pulled back into the dangerous world he left behind when he becomes involved in a high-stakes hostage situation. He must confront his own demons and navigate a treacherous landscape of double-crosses and violence to save the lives of innocent victims and possibly redeem himself.
Critical Reception
Hostage (1987) was a direct-to-video release that garnered little attention upon its initial release. Critical reviews were scarce, and audience reception was largely lukewarm, with many finding the film to be a standard, albeit competently made, thriller that failed to distinguish itself from similar films of the era.
What Reviewers Say
- Competent but unremarkable thriller pacing
- Familiar plot elements lacking originality
- Performances are adequate for the genre
Google audience: Audience reviews for Hostage (1987) are very limited due to its direct-to-video status and lack of widespread availability. Those that exist tend to describe it as a serviceable, if forgettable, thriller.
Fun Fact
Despite its title, this 1987 film 'Hostage' is not to be confused with the 2005 Bruce Willis film of the same name, which is a much more widely recognized thriller.
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