There are some Hollywood clichés in this (does any villain's usefulness to the plot ever outlive the villain?), but a lot of it feels pretty fresh, too. Carrie Hamilton really shines in a role where I never knew what she would do next and all her actions seemed, if not entirely likely, at least plausible. (Sad to see that she died before age 40!) Carol Burnett, her real-life mother, was also very good, and very dynamic as well, as her titular hostage. Rounding out the trio of leads, the menacing dad was perhaps a bit over-the-top, but only a bit. He had his role to play and played it well.
Some of the settings and elements are dated, but that's OK. Every movie eventually shows its age. A good story, though, doesn't suffer (much, anyway) from outliving its contextual setting. It doesn't matter that this story takes place a few decades ago, now; the themes of familial love, abandonment, heartache, quiet desperation, helplessness, abuse, redemption, etc. are timeless and transcend smoothly.
"Hostage" works well over all and overcomes its minor flaws to deliver an engrossing story told by talented actors.
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