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,...