iHostage is a 2025 Dutch thriller/crime movie that premiered on 18th April 2025, and it’s currently streaming on Netflix. The movie was inspired by true events; it is based on a 2022 hostage crisis that took place at an Apple Store in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Written by Bobby Boermans and Simon de Waal and directed by Bobby Boermans. the film runs for 1 hour and 24 minutes. It is rated 16+ and only suitable for viewers older than 16.
The Premise
Ammar Ajah, a man struggling with psychiatric issues and convinced he had been wronged by the police and the government, storms into the Leidseplein Apple Store in Amsterdam armed and takes hostages. While some customers manage to escape and others hide, one man, Ilian, is unable to flee and is taken hostage by Ammar.
Inside the store, Mingus, one of the employees, quickly gathers three customers and hides with them in a closet. From there, he contacts the police and provides crucial information that helps guide the rescue of the customers and employees hiding upstairs.
Meanwhile, Ammar demands to speak with a negotiator and is connected with Lynn. He insists on receiving 200 million in Bitcoin and a secure escape route. Lynn works to calm him, repeatedly assuring Ammar that they are working on meeting his demands. There is exploration of themes of fear, desperation, and the human instinct for survival.
Cast and Performances
Soufiane Moussouli as Ammar Ajah
Ammar is an extremely annoying antagonist with little to nothing to offer. He’s neither scary nor intimidating and sometimes screams to make us take notice of him. He is the hostage taker who feels he has been greatly wronged by the government and wants to be compensated. He tries to bring a blend of intensity and vulnerability, suggesting the emotional turmoil behind his actions.
Admir Šehović as Ilian
Ilian is a traveller who finds himself in a precarious situation after losing his AirPods; he goes to the Apple store to replace them. What began as a mundane shopping trip quickly escalates when a gunman, Ammar Ajah, takes Ilian hostage.
He effectively conveys the fear and uncertainty he experiences during the unpleasant event. Ilian is a good character, but the script gives up on focusing on him halfway through, only to turn around and hinge the emotional climax on him. He was largely one-note, except for the final moments where he gets to flex some of his acting muscles.
Marcel Hensema as Kees van Zanten
Hensema portrays the general commander of Amsterdam’s Police Department, showcasing his authority and decision-making skills.
Emmanuel Ohene Boafo as Mingus
Boafo’s character, Mingus, is an Apple Store employee, and he contributes to the tense atmosphere of the film.
Loes Haverkort as Lynn
Lynn is a hostage negotiator who was working diligently to calm the situation. She delivers a compelling portrayal of the police negotiator. Lynn, showcases her resilience and empathy as she navigates the stressful situation.
Louis Talpe as Winston
Winston leads a group of tactical officers to take care of anything that happens on the ground. His quick response toward the end of the movie plays a key role in capturing the hostage taker.
What I Liked About iHostage
Cinematography and picture quality
Great picture quality! The film’s unique use of various camera angles—from the confines of the supply closet to the surveillance monitors that were feeding information to Lynn’s team—elevates the pacing and thrill of the story.
Authenticity
The authenticity of the movie makes it different. The film not only dramatises the impact of a hostage situation but also pays homage to the real-life teams involved in such operations, providing an insightful glimpse into their strategies and emotional stakes as members of this team.
The movie also sheds light on how the tactical team prepares for action, creating a layered narrative that highlights the complexities of real-time crisis management. I also appreciated how a bustling shop was transformed into the setting for a life-or-death situation.
What Didn’t Work
Weak plot and unnecessary scenes
The script is fundamentally flawed, with plots lacking depth, and the pacing was slow. Even though it is based on a real event, the movie failed to capture any real emotion or tension.
Some scenes weren’t necessary – pizza for the cops, the cop who didn’t like leaving his wife and kids behind to go do his job. There were lots of predictable and unexciting scenes.
It is only toward the end that we get the film’s most thrilling hostage scene — delivering the kind of tension and suspense that felt missing from the earlier parts of the movie.
Poor character development
We never really learn a lot about any of the characters, and the drama isn’t exactly the most intense thing ever. It’s an adequate time-passer on Netflix. There’s hardly any backstory, and the creators never try to tell us who any of these people are.
Final Thoughts
iHostage is a film about a broken present, where violence appears as a silent response to a world saturated with negative stimuli and unfulfilled promises. The attacker doesn’t represent an ideology but rather a systemic failure, a human glitch, and this makes it deeply disturbing. The movie does have some moments of high tension and nail-biting suspense and so I would recommend it for lovers of the true crime genre.
Rating
I would rate iHostage a 3 out of 5 stars
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