Hostage Radio (II) (2019) User Reviews

It's OK

[mjsreg · 5/10 · 1 July 2019]

Although this is well produced and the acting is superb, there is something missing that made this a bit of a tedious film to watch for me.

I had the feeling that the story could have been told just as effectively in half the time.

it's an OK watch if you happen to come across it, but I am not sure I would specifically seek it out to watch.

Amazing story, Crazy acting, underrated drama movie.

[syaril-99019 · 7/10 · 10 November 2020]

This movie is not a slasher kill type, It has a deep story and characters. there are so many unbelievable twist and the watcher starts to think about the moral decision and solving the problems. it's not about a psychopath or horror movie. so much appreciated for this and very underrated.

Very Decent.

[LordCommandar · 6/10 · 2 July 2019]

For an entire film to be shot in one location, you need two things, a great cast, and good story to reel you in from to start it to finish. Let me just say that Feedback has them both. Wow, what a very decent film, A story about getting to bottom of the truth about a sexual assault, and murder in a hotel room, and the whole account being aired on lived radio with some very colorful characters looking to get even. In the end it wasn't the "feedback" that they were looking for. A little gory and bloody, but executed properly with the right proportion. A definite must watch for anyone who likes dark suspense/thriller films.

A 10 minute short story expanded beyond its scope and abilities of the script

[the_wolf_imdb · 2/10 · 24 March 2020]

Once upon a time there was fictional, alternative Britain. In that country wise people actually listened to political radio shows at 11 pm instead of waiting for the last pint at the pub and gave attention to brave radio hosts that tried to defend them from Brexit promoting nazi knife-carrying gangs controlled from Russia. Yes, this is actually the premise of the story there.

This sci-fi thriller takes place in this bizarre reality, which is somewhat more crazy than London from Mortal Engines (2019). But never mind. Basically it is just a very cheap, very bizarre slasher that "tries to subvert our expectations" which would probably work in a very short format. But to expand 10 minute story to entire movie requires a lot of reality twisting. We must somehow accept that radio studios do have walls from bulletproof glass not smashable by chairs and hardly breakable by explosions, that there are no security guards in media buildings and no one actually cares that the security cameras have failed or even someone observes what is happening or actually listens to the show.

We absolutely need all of this to create a situation where the radio host is forced to admit in live radio he raped one girl and killed her boy. There are three attackers that are somewhat more capable than all the other people in entire radio station because they manage to both threaten the hostages and to control radio transmission at the very same time. Which is not easy and actually requires some tech knowledge that is unlikely to expect from three amateurs who do look like American rednecks..

I do not understand the details of the story because it is utterly insane and illogical: The radio moderator is somewhat capable to disarm two attackers with bare hands but everything somewhat changes again. Then they continue as normal, then there is some fight in the studio dungeon, then they fight again and then everything switches again. Everything repeats at least FIVE cycles. At that stage the story is not thrilling at all and it is basically a joke.

If there was one switch or two at most it might be actually a decent character based thriller. But the characters are not actually characters, there are not any backgrounds, there is no buildup, there are just surprise revelations and viewer is completely free to guess who tells the truth and who lies. But we live in a post Game of Thrones world, so no one needs to create believable characters, all we need is just to "subvert the expectations". There are leads at the start that lead literary to nowhere whereas we have no bloody idea why the journalist is so effective at murdering people. Was he ex military like Harry Brown? Or a ex cop like John McClane? We don't know and we do not need to know because it could set up the expectations somewhat.

This is the summit of British storytelling these days! I'm not joking. The entire setup of the story is completely crazy. There is no trace of any logic in it, in the end it is just a pure slasher fantasy. They repeatedly start and stop the live broadcast in between the fights - yet it somehow continues for THREE HOURS according to internal studio clock on the wall - scene in the studio starts at 22:20 and ends after 01. Not even that - they announce at the start there will be music show at the midnight that never happens - yet no one cares at all probably.

The moderator actually calls for police from the studio phone yet they are not able to identify the number of the studio or something. Yes, the police actually says they need to TRACE the call (obviously not needed after migration to digital switching). But nothing happens at all, it is probably a custom of british police to ignore emergency calls of something. They do actually blow up the studio at the end so I assume they thought this is sort of british variation of Die Hard (1988)!

The bloody rampage of the moderator (yes he did all the bad things) is so horrid so "they want him now everywhere, even to host Trump". Really. No joke. So he starts at the beginning of the story as progressive anti-Brexit good guy but after two hours of murderous mayhem where he is somewhat able prevent the broadcast of his admission to murder we kinda discover he is actually a*hole so he is fine with Big Corps and Trump now. He is probably nazi at that point as well but we will never know. But he wears black suit at the end so he probably is.

To say this story is stupid and bizarre is a huge understatement. I actually do hope the guys from "The Best of the Worst" would help us identify some traces of logic inside this. There are similar thrillers like Devil (2010) that take place in a very confined place but they are actually thrilling and even more realistic than this - because they present the characters, set up properly and disclose information in a manner that has a sense at the end.

Disappointing pay off

[maximumbeard-79-596531 · 11 April 2021]

A driveling rat of a man is confronted over a rape and murder he was involved in years ago. While its well acted and intense, the ending is leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Shame, because it seems like it has potential up until its lack of resolution.

Pretty good!Grim times indeed...

[tchitouniaram · 6/10 · 8 February 2020]

Pretty good!Grim times indeed...Reasonably entertaining little thriller,everything is done quite well,acting is superb;a bit weak story-didn't fully engage me...Not a bad one time watch.

You want feedback, you got it.

[BA_Harrison · 3/10 · 25 August 2019]

Jarvis Dolan (Eddie Marsan), a thoroughly irritating talk-radio DJ with zero charisma, spouts his socialist agenda to loyal listeners (apparently, his show is so popular with the masses, he even has groupies). During one of his mind-numbingly dull broadcasts, the radio station is taken over by masked intruders who hold the technicians hostage, threatening bloody consequences if Dolan doesn't comply with their wishes: wring a dreadful confession from his co-host Andrew (Paul Anderson).

Combining social commentary (the film touching on such topical subjects such as Brexit, pro-abortion and the me-too movement) with brutal violence, Feedback is clearly intended to be an edgy, uncompromising survivalist/revenge horror/thriller, but simply comes off as dumb and tedious, with a lead character whose personality immediately had my back up.

The first half of the film is unbearably slow and uneventful, as Dolan pollutes the airwaves with his diatribe; the second half of the film picks up the pace a little but becomes incredibly daft in the process: are radio studios so isolated that no-one outside would realise what is happening?; is security so lax that a group of strangers can smuggle in a sledgehammer, a shotgun and a handy-dandy acetylene blow-torch (you know, just in case they need to bust open a sealed door)?; is a fight scene inside a cramped cavity wall anyone's idea of exciting?; and what the hell is up with those furry costumes?

The final message - that those in power are getting away with murder - is hardly revelationary and provides an unsatisfactory conclusion to an already disappointing movie.

Very decent mystery/crime/psychological horror film

[kperakis · 7/10 · 20 July 2019]

I must say ai really enjoyed feedback,even though: 1) the political references did not have much to do with the story,and 2) the ending puzzled me a bit. I don't want to spoil it,so I won't just give it away,but I will say that this movie is definitely worth watching!nice story,good acting,solid plot,and a few gore scenes...pretty good recipe for a successful movie!

Home alone + metoo

[PestVolk · 1/10 · 22 March 2022]

The premise is interesting and that's where the positives end.

The characters are uninteresting, the acting is mediocre, the ending is unsatisfying, but the worst offender by far is the script.

The intruders are written like Home Alone goons, that's the level of Scooby Doo villain nonsense we're dealing with here.

They lack any solid plan or devotion to see things through after awaiting this moment for 8 years. They get played like children, doubt their own co conspirators over this radiohost and they just fumble around without keeping any control of the situation. They can't fight, shoot, make logical decisions and end up infighting and accidentally shooting each other, getting outplayed and outwitted on every opportunity like some children.

And if you think a father staring at their daughters killer, awaiting this moment for 8 years of suffering, would call the police expecting them to convict this guy instead of shooting him because he's going to literally get away with it, you shouldn't be writing movies, period.

And I'm not going to dive into the numerous plot black holes and plot conveniences.

Worst movie I've seen in at least a year.

The Russians did Brexit!

[imatosser182 · 7/10 · 9 July 2019]

Feedback is a decent film that is infested with the now unavoidable liberal propaganda in everything on television. This time we get Brexit conspiracies, 'Islamphobia' and Donald Trump in one bizarre 5 minute segment that is so overt, random and pointless that it came across as a parody at first. Unfortunately it wasn't.

It's okay, here's what happens.

[hamptonthefirst · 5/10 · 18 January 2023]

Since none of the other spoilers actually spoil the ending, here goes: Jarvis admits to killing Lucy and throwing her body in the river. He then improbably disarms Claire and Lucy's father and causes an explosion that incapacitates them. Julia survives, Jarvis kills Alex, Claire, and the Father character and apparently gets away with it at the end. He is not arrested. The closing scene is Julia coming to visit Jarvis at his office, she's apparently traumatized and it's implied that she blames him. We never get to hear their conversation though as the scene goes to black. The story was pretty predictable but the acting was not bad. Jarvis and Lucy's Father were the most developed characters, but it's still a stretch to say they were developed all that much. This movie is perfectly suitable for leaving on as background during the neighborhood poker game.

Definitely worth a watch

[emmathorne-37798 · 8/10 · 29 October 2020]

This is a solid thriller worth spending an evening watching. The acting is great and the story is interesting, it left me guessing til the end.

Thriller that's well acted. Good one to watch.

[rochfordsimon · 7/10 · 26 May 2020]

I was dubious about this movie but Eddie Marsen drew me in. Hes superb in it, as are his peers. Well crafted and shot, the violence is scary. But this a thriller, not a horror as such.

The story is not original, but it was well written and kept me interested and intrigued after a slow build up. There are mild set ups that fail to pay off later in the story.

The ending was good, but it was lacking a proper conclusion. You didn't hate the guy, because the aggressors were too agenda ridden. The jilted father was a good character with morales. Not enough focus on his dilemma at the end. Overall, woke culture theme that's too forceful to give 100% sympathy to the protagonist (whom ever you decide it is).

I will watch this movie again and recommend it.

Truly awful.

[AndreanDatura · 2/10 · 1 December 2019]

A totally ridiculous premise on every level. Quite mindnumbingly terrible.

Intense

[Gordon-11 · 9 March 2020]

This story is very intense! It got me on edge all the time. There is a lot of suspense and thrill. I enjoyed it a lot.

Almost got it...

[Ringhio8 · 4/10 · 30 June 2019]

Feedback, is a well made film, that's filled with mystery, instensity, violence and a claustrophobic atmosphere, since everything is set in a radio station. The flow is good and kidna predictable, just like the way it should be. Calm at first, aggressive and unknown, later. Everything would have been perfect in this movie, but the ending ruined everything. Despite the quite enough twists, during the film, the ending wasn't something to be surprised with.

The creators/writers/director, probably wanted to play safe, because Feedback, was pretty close, to be an amazing non political/revenge movie, and most likely, "afraid" to, due to the "political correct" frenzyness. Also it's really tiring and boring, in another movie, to make references about politics and ideologies. The words "Nazi" and "Fascists" have their "honour" again, and it's totally irrelevant to the plot, especially when the "antinazi" characters, are being accused for unforgivable and horrible things.

Despite that, there's a very good allusion about how much influence, publicity, power and money, can have on the masses, that are so careless for their beloving and "untouchable" celebrities's actions, where these actions, are being applauded in the end.

Overall, Feedback is a good movie, and i recommend it, despite it's flaws.

That's real drama should watch

[ks-60500 · 7/10 · 23 October 2019]

From Happy-go-lucky driving teacher Scott to Radio star Jarvis in Feedback, Eddie showed a total turnover on his performance. Eddie did master the role and enrich the story totally. Being in a hostage situation and see how he turned the situation from loss to win is remarkable. Also, who's bad and who's good person is the spirit of this movie, can you determine ?

Nonsensical gharbage

[madeitupforfacebook · 4/10 · 4 July 2019]

I watch everything and never bother leaving reviews. This movie is unbelievably bad. The protagonist is the worst written character I have ever seen. The film is literally 2 hours of a guy provoking killers with a knife rather than co-operating, for no good reason. It's horrible.

intense

[ops-52535 · 6/10 · 26 June 2019]

This is a nervewrecking piece of thrillish revenge horror with some small plotholes,and turns i didnt quite understand. its a radio talker whos with his staff gets hijacked in the radio studio, and they are tumbled around for several reasons by the group of kidnappers, but the trutj of the deeds that the radio show members have done is quite litterally beaten out of the , so have you ever argumented against a sledgehammer before, well this is your opportunity.

the grumpy old man had a finger on the sound control all the time, because the sound spectrume goes from zerro to 20000 hertz in an instance. so if you want a nice thrill with some rather gruesome violence, then have a look at feedback

Predictable and uninteresting.

[m-47826 · 1/10 · 11 September 2020]

You see all these good reviews are from people who just love « foreign » movies. You can't make mediocre films, with unoriginal scripts, and hide behind the « foreign film » excuse. Just to appeal to globalists. It won't change the uselessness of the movie, either. When it is bad, boring and nonsensical. Victimization speeches, are really getting old. Especially when it serves a script and a movie, that would not have even existed without it, in the first place. You need quality writing to make it fit to be seen. Which Feedback isn't. It's sad Anthony Head resorted to this kind of z-movie, to keep working in the industry...

Not sure who you're supposed to root for

[pimpulmtd · 7/10 · 8 December 2019]

Im sorry but it's a weird movie. I felt the whole time that he was supposed to be innocent. I've never in my life thought I would root for the rapist and murderer but here we are... I understand being angry at what happened to her but damn the victim was unlikeable in this movie. She made it almost impossible to not hate her! Plus she was just in the wrong. You don't go around killing innocent people no matter what happened to you. Weird movie but watchable.

it thinks it's smarter than it is.

[dannyreyntiens · 4/10 · 29 August 2021]

As brilliant as Eddie Marsan is, the film thinks way too hard that it's clever. A decent and interesting start turns into a story you have seen before multiple times and much much better. Marsan couldn't safe it.

Grim, intense, and unforgiving radio station thriller

[TuesdayThe17th · 8/10 · 19 February 2020]

"Feedback" is a curious little indie film with very good production notes. Eddie Marsan plays Jarvis, who, is a radio host with attitude and who hosts a late night show called "The Grim Reality". His show is controversial and so much to the point that he was recently abducted and beaten close to death. This happened before the film began as we see Jarvis having a reeling conversation with his boss in the opening scene. Jarvis was going back on the air for possibly the first time since his attack however this night he was going to be interviewing an old friend. Someone who Jarvis may know quite well but is sick of seeing. Tonight will be different. Tonight will be the most intense night of Jarvis' life...and as the show begins, the terror unfolds. This is a thriller rather than a horror but there is some extremely violent kill scenes that should satisfy horror lovers. The story is a bit reused but it's the intensity and the off kilter style and mystery that keeps us engrossed. Jarvis may have skeletons in the closet but so do we all. I will say the ending is a little muddled and maybe ever so slightly rushed. Overall this is a really good thriller. Reminiscent of "Money Monster" in some ways

Violence in the radio

[LUIS · 7/10 · 13 January 2020]

The radio announcer is not only the culprit, but also gets his way, the police are not expected.

Severely lacking

[edfilmsuk · 1/10 · 6 March 2020]

Feedback is an impotent film that never gets going. Eddie Marsan lacks the charisma or gravitas to play the film's protagonist. His voice is also not suited to radio, and he proves to be miscast. Even Anthony Head would've been a better shout.

There is a painfully long and meandering introduction to this film, which ultimately proves ridiculous - had to switch it off halfway through Act 2.

On a technical note, the cinematography and production design looks almost too clean, too pristine, which directly contradicts the clear 'gritty' intention. The choice of wide lenses makes the place look ridiculously big when a more enclosed feel would have been better suited to the claustrophobic atmosphere.

Agree with others' criticisms re the political agenda - the dialogue is poor, with moralising diatribes and virtue signalling galore. A 'message' that is intended to be impactful comes across as laughable.