10 Most Sympathetic Movie Kidnappers And Hostage Takers

4. Vic And Eddie - The Disappearance Of Alice Creed (2010)

The kidnapping ex-jailbirds in J. Blakeson€™s debut Brit thriller initially seem like a cold-blooded distillation of every cinematic kidnapper and hostage-taker thus far. Their snatching of rich businessman€™s spoilt daughter Alice (Gemma Arterton) is ruthless, no-nonsense and militaristic in its efficiency (Vic, played by hard-beaked Eddie Marsan, alludes to an army background). That we stay with them throughout the low-budget drama, feeling their fluctuations in fortune - as well as those of the hapless Alice - almost as if they were our own is a testament to how well this spare, stripped-down three-hander works. It€™s the economy of the scenario that makes us identify with the main characters we€™re stuck in a hideout with, hoping against our better judgement that all goes well while knowing it€™s impossible. "If doesn€™t pay," Vic barks at his hostage after a long wordless opening, "then WE €“ WILL €“ KILL €“ YOU!" The viewer almost wants to trust him when he tells the younger Danny (Martin Compston) there will be no need for murder if all goes to plan, but how likely is that? As with any effective crime drama, it€™s the wrong-footing narrative and psychological twists that draw us closer to people we wouldn€™t want to share breathing space with in real life. The sudden revelation that dominant Vic and less decisive Eddie were prison f*ck buddies and are now gay lovers is no less a revelation than that Eddie picked Alice as a target because she€™s a girlfriend; both are potentially deadly dynamics that have to be hidden from the third party. Alice too is shown as devious and manipulative, albeit in the hope of preserving her life and regaining freedom. But by the time the deceptions have blown up and ended in the kidnappers€™ mutual homicide, it€™s a relief that the spoilt little rich girl makes it out to drive away - with a holdall full of cash from the daddy who rejected her to boot.