iHostage on Netflix: A Gripping Thriller Inspired by a Real Amsterdam Apple Store Standoff

A genuine frightening event from real life serves as the foundation for this story. iHostage (available now on Netflix), Dutch director Bobby Boermans has brought us a dramatic retelling of an intense hostage crisis that unfolded in 2022 just outside his home near urban Amsterdam: Abdel Rahman Akkad entered the Apple store located in the busy Leidzeiplein area, brandished a firearm, seized a hostage, and insisted on receiving 200 million Euros worth of Bitcoin along with a clear route out of the nation. This confrontation persisted for five grueling hours. Boermans' movie stays true to how events actually transpired, resulting in a gripping and nerve-wracking suspense film that ideally won't be overlooked among the vast array of content available through Netflix’s stream services.

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The Gist: On a train, someone leaves behind a set of earbuds, causing two officers patrolling on foot to grumble about their task to look out for and catch pickpocketers—a cruel twist of fate and ironic circumstance. A kind passerby taps on the train window, ensuring that Ilian (played by Admir Sehovic) doesn’t skip his station. As he steps off groggily in Amsterdam, the camera pauses momentarily on the forgotten earphones. Ilian heads to an inexpensive motel where he contacts his spouse back home in Bulgaria. During their conversation, she discusses property investments, expressing desire for them to purchase a house together, whereas he wishes to get one specifically for her; however, financial constraints complicate matters further. Adding insult to injury, he must make a trip to the Apple Store—where he will hear the complaining policemen—to retrieve these not-so-ordinary earbuds since they turn out to be pricey AirPods.

So, Ilian drops by the Apple store, but unlike regular shops where you simply pick up items off the shelves and swiftly checkout, here things work differently. You must navigate through 15,000 square feet of minimalistic open space before speaking with an underpaid staff member pretending to be overly cheerful, after which they retrieve your desired product from a hidden storeroom accessible only via a doorknob-less entryway. Now, let me get back to my story—yes, right—Ilian requires some fresh AirPods and finds himself standing at one of their counters as this guy, whom we come to know as Ammar (played by Soufiane Moussouli), storms into the place waving a firearm around, firing several rounds towards the roof and declaring dominion over the area. Panicked customers rush upwards toward upper floors, hide inside cabinets, flee outdoors; meanwhile, the pair of police officers stationed externally request additional support and assist in evacuating everyone nearby.

When the commotion dies down, Ammar has Ilian’s hands tied and the gun to the back of Ilian’s head. Ammar walks to the window and opens his jacket to reveal a bomb strapped to his chest and a trigger in his hand. There are 40-plus people upstairs. The cops and the SWAT team and the bomb squad rush to the scene. Snipers on the roofs, helicopter in the air. In a locked storage closet in the store, four people, corralled by employee Mingus (Emmanuel Ohene Boafo). Ammar demands to talk to a negotiator, and three of them, led by Lynn (Loes Haverkort), park in a command center. Ilian kneels against a wall. The closet folk huddle quietly. The people upstairs try to stay calm. The authorities communicate among their various squads. Ammar demands money and a car from Lynn, hangs up, rants a little about how he’s been mistreated by government institutions. Then Ammar sits quietly, scrolling on his phone.

Which Films Might This Recall for You? iHostage finds motivation in hostage thriller novels like Inside Man , Dog Day Afternoon , and to a slightly lesser degree, Captain Phillips .

Performance Worth Watching: Although Ammar and Ilian are a touch thin on the page, Moussouli and Sehovic give us a few shades of subtle insight into their characters. The standout though is Haverkort, who has even less of a character to play, but nevertheless convincingly fills the shoes of a hostage negotiator who has to improvise and think on her feet, and, to read into it a little, may be projecting more confidence than she truly has.

Memorable Dialogue: You can all but feel Ilian’s heart pounding in his ribcage as he turns to Ammar and maybe tries to appeal to his humanity: “Sir,” Ilian asks, “am I going to die?”

Sex and Skin: None.

Our Take: Boermans’ priority with iHostage Aims to create suspense via authenticity, subjecting viewers to intense experiences. Other aspects such as racial issues, the influence of social media, and intricate hostage negotiation tactics are included but not highlighted. The movie follows a middle ground storyline that mixes emotionally resonant scenes (like discussions between hostages regarding their families and loved ones; Ilian attempts to connect with Ammar by recounting his experience about his wife’s desire for a home) with typical procedural elements from law enforcement dramas.

The screenplay explores several viewpoints (for instance, we observe one of the SWAT team members embracing his children before heading off to work) and could have gained greater narrative drive with tighter focus. However, I am inclined to defend it by suggesting that Boermans' aim appears to be illustrating how a person grappling with societal alienation and psychological distress impacts numerous individuals—from unsuspecting civilians to different government service providers. Ammar expresses frustration over having interacted with too many ineffectual social workers and believes he must resort to extreme measures to obtain the help he genuinely requires.

Thus, several significant ramifications stem from this tale, which is both recognizable and unremarkable yet commendably solid and narrated with intense fervor. It doesn’t require much beyond suspense; not when aiming at the rather restrained objective of keeping our attention for about 100 minutes. Intriguingly, Boermans strays from convention during the climax—tension’s balloon has barely shrunk. As the rush of readiness dissipates, everybody starts steeping in their distress. Films frequently neglect this aspect, opting for characters to simply move forward into happy endings instead. however ever after. iHostage becomes even more potent when acknowledging that stark truth.

Our Call: Don’t judge it by its lame title – iHostage it's a solid thriller enhanced significantly by its believable drama. WATCH IT NOW.

John Serba serves as a freelance writer and movie reviewer located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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