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Held for Ransom

  • 20002000
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
4.5/10
484
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dennis Hopper, Kam Heskin, Randy Spelling, Jordan Brower, and Zachery Ty Bryan in Held for Ransom (2000)
Home Video Trailer from Ventura Distribution
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
1 Photo
  • Thriller

Five spoiled high-school students are kidnapped and held for ransom in a remote swamp area.Five spoiled high-school students are kidnapped and held for ransom in a remote swamp area.Five spoiled high-school students are kidnapped and held for ransom in a remote swamp area.

IMDb RATING
4.5/10
484
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lee Stanley
  • Writers
    • Lois Duncan(novel "Ransom")
    • Nickolas Perry(uncredited)
    • Lee Stanley
  • Stars
    • Dennis Hopper
    • Zachery Ty Bryan
    • Kam Heskin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lee Stanley
  • Writers
    • Lois Duncan(novel "Ransom")
    • Nickolas Perry(uncredited)
    • Lee Stanley
  • Stars
    • Dennis Hopper
    • Zachery Ty Bryan
    • Kam Heskin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Held For Ransom
    Trailer 1:32
    Held For Ransom

    Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • JDas JD
    Zachery Ty Bryan
    Zachery Ty Bryan
    • Glenn Kirklandas Glenn Kirkland
    Kam Heskin
    Kam Heskin
    • Jesse McCormickas Jesse McCormick
    Jordan Brower
    Jordan Brower
    • Bruce Kirklandas Bruce Kirkland
    Randy Spelling
    Randy Spelling
    • Dexter Martinas Dexter Martin
    Tsianina Joelson
    Tsianina Joelson
    • Marianne Donovanas Marianne Donovan
    Timothy Bottoms
    Timothy Bottoms
    • Fred Donovanas Fred Donovan
    John Getz
    John Getz
    • Mr. Kirklandas Mr. Kirkland
    Paul Dillon
    Paul Dillon
    • Johnas John
    Charlene Amoia
    Charlene Amoia
    • Student #1as Student #1
    Michael Finuoli
    Michael Finuoli
    • Student #3as Student #3
    Joe Hess
    • Swamp Man #1as Swamp Man #1
    • (as Joseph C. Hess)
    Tyler Kuhn
    • Randy Donovanas Randy Donovan
    Keith MacKechnie
    Keith MacKechnie
    • Detective Van Bommelas Detective Van Bommel
    Brian Nolan
    Brian Nolan
    • Student #4as Student #4
    Quentin Richmond
    • Teen on Busas Teen on Bus
    Thomas Rosales Jr.
    Thomas Rosales Jr.
    • Swamp Man #2as Swamp Man #2
    David Siegel
    David Siegel
    • Crime Scene Detectiveas Crime Scene Detective
    • Director
      • Lee Stanley
    • Writers
      • Lois Duncan(novel "Ransom")
      • Nickolas Perry(uncredited)
      • Lee Stanley
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In rural Florida, white trash JD, his wife Rita and their mate John murder a bus driver so they can kidnap five high-school students and demand $250,000 ransom per head. The kids are held captive end constantly threatened by JD and wife in their miserable swamp home in alligator country. The brothers Glenn (a cocky, dumb but popular jock captain) and Bruce (nice and bright) Kirkland and Dexter Martin, neglected son of a penniless Newyorker and the class's boxing-ball, must overcome or at least control their strife to deal with JD's envy-driven abuse. The girls must play in to his adulterous appetite. The ransom is questionable, so a matter of anguish for the parents. Several family secrets play a crucial part in the outcome. —KGF Vissers
    • man tied up
    • woman tied up
    • alligator
    • abuse
    • diving
    • 9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • They Pay or They Die.
    • Genre
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Charlene Amoia's debut.

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    C'mon, why was this so bad?
    A strait to video release, you have to give it some credit. HELD FOR RANSOM is based on the Lois Duncan novel and you can obviously tell that it is a low-budget film. But the fact that it was based on a book helped give it some more famous actors to star in the film.

    The film was a little suspenseful you have to admit, but I still don't understand why everyone hated this movie so. I mean, we get to see Tsianina Joelson strip down to her bra and panties. No, but seriously the film was pretty enjoyable for me. It is very realistic as to what some people might do in a hostage situation. It is somewhat different from the book as the film takes place in the sweltering Everglades and the book is in the icy cold mountains.

    I seriously didn't think it was that bad. HELD FOR RANSOM gets 4/5.
    helpful•4
    2
    • Jack the Ripper1888
    • Aug 14, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gisslan
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films)
      • Miracle Entertainment
      • Splendid Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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    Dennis Hopper, Kam Heskin, Randy Spelling, Jordan Brower, and Zachery Ty Bryan in Held for Ransom (2000)
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