Movie spotlight
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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