Netflix’s crime drama, iHostage, is a cinematic adaptation of the Amsterdam Apple Store hostage incident. Given the fact that Dutch director Bobby Boermans witnessed the events unfold in real time back in 2022, it is no wonder that the movie never lacked authenticity in its reenactment of the crisis. To add on to the dramatic elements, the movie focused on several characters—all of whom are shown to be connected with the central crisis in one way or another, thereby imbuing the necessary human touch that allows viewers the perspective to assess the crisis. However, the characterization isn’t developed as much as it should have been to make viewers feel sympathetic to the plight of either the victims/hostages or the perpetrator in question—which is a missed opportunity, to say the least.

Ammar Ajar, played by Soufiane Moussouli

Dutch actor Soufiane Moussouli began his acting career with theater performances,...