When I read that iHostage was #2 on Netflix, I immediately watched the trailer to see what the hype is all about, and guys, from the preview alone, it's no wonder everyone's tuning in for this Dutch thriller, because if the film is even half as suspenseful as the trailer, it will most definitely be a nail biter. And what's more...it's based on real events.
Terrifying Thriller Hits #2 on Netflix, and the Trailer Alone Is Giving Me Goosebumps
And it's based on real events
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Published Apr 20, 2025
Elmer van der Marel/Netflix
Directed by Bobby Boermans and starring Soufiane Moussouli, Admir Sehovic and Emmanuel Ohene Boafo, iHostage is an edge-of-your-seat dramatization of areal-life 2022 hostage crisis at an Apple Store in Amsterdam (hence the cute "i" film title). According to Time, "On Feb. 22, 2022, a 27-year-old armed man entered the Apple Store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, and held a customer at gunpoint for nearly five hours. He demanded €200 million in cryptocurrency and a safe exit from the building—but nothing went according to plan." The real-life event led to a heated national discussion on mental health services and public health systems.
Netflix/Elmer van der Marel
While the true story is its own harrowing tale, the film apparently unfolds from multiple perspectives—the hostage's, the assailant's, the hidden employees' and the police negotiators'—allowing viewers a 360-degree experience of the thrilling narrative. And, like I mentioned, if the trailer is any indication, make sure you're comfortable sitting on the edge of your seat...because you'll be glued there.
Beyond the gripping plot, just as the real incident sparked a much-needed national debate, the film raises similar questions about societal pressures and mental health.
I should also note that, since I watched the trailer in the U.S., Netflix automatically played it with English dubbing—a great feature, for sure, but I think watching with the actors’ own voices is the way to go and makes it feel all the more suspenseful. My vote? Opt for subtitles.
That said, I know what I’m watching this weekend, and I suggest you do too.
You can stream iHostage on Netflix now.
