Shoot The Hostage

Shoot The Hostage Podcast
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Welcome to Shoot The Hostage with Sarah & Dan - the movie podcast where we pick one movie at a time and take a deep dive into anything and everything we can. Each season, we dive into a new theme which we take turns in choosing. We tend to choose a diverse pick of films for each season, trying our best to cover different genres & themes. If you’re in the market for a movie podcast with hosts that don’t take themselves too seriously and love films just as much as you, then head over. Take your shoes off and come on in.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Triangle (2009) - S15 E115

    Don’t be a square, it’s time to get an acute perspective on our latest pick as we sail into a brand-new season! Dan is convinced we’re kicking off a “season of shapes” having already prepared notes for The Circle, Hex the Hexagon and the Secret Life of Rectangles but Sarah is here to steer the ship back towards her actual theme: Liminal Space Movies. And we’re launching with Christopher Smith’s Triangle (2009). This mind-bending entry into the world of time loops takes us far beyond the Bermuda Triangle and into a dreamlike, transitionary world where the rules of reality are flexible. We delve into Melissa George’s performance as Jess, a mother whose spontaneous trip on a yacht becomes a punishing exploration of identity. Joining her is Michael Dorman, whose character might be a “nice guy”, we’re not quite sure, and a young Liam Hemsworth who is very confident about his Greek mythology pronunciations. From the Overlook Boatel vibes of the ocean liner Aeolus to the meticulously crafted script that rewards repeat viewings, we’re trying to get to the hull of what makes this cult movie so special. Just don’t ask us to explain the mechanics of the time-loop just yet. Give us another ten thousand years! What to expect from this episode: Sarah attempts to define liminal spaces while Dan wonders if his Tiktok feed of endless swimming pools is actually a cry for help. We discuss whether Christopher Smith reached his magnum opus early with this low-budget indie horror masterclass. A deep dive into Melissa George’s incredible ability to maintain emotional continuity. We break down the Sisyphus connections and why pushing a rock up a hill is basically just a 90s retail job. Sarah geeks out about the VFX and that incredible “through the mirror” camera trick. A look at how the UK’s National Lottery helped fund this $12 million time loop nightmare with a big foam finger. We explore the purgatory theory and why you should never, ever make a promise to a cab driver in a black suit. Our seemingly traditional mention of Chris Barrie. This season has eight episodes, concluding July 6th Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1hr 12min

  2. 11 MAY ·  BONUS

    Bonus : The Beekeeper

    Apologies in advance if this one stings a little. Yes, it’s a bee pun. What else! While we’re currently between seasons, we’re keeping the hive alive by raiding the Patreon archive to bring you this bonus discussion. Today we’re talking about another entry in the Statham vocation cinematic universe, The Beekeeper (2024). In this outing, directed by David Ayer, Statham plays a man who literalises his hobby, proving he’s the Buffy the Vampire Slayer of honey production. We explore why Josh Hutcherson is playing a crypto bro villain, how Jeremy Irons ended up as a fixer, and why Minnie Driver is only on screen for minutes. It’s a film for cinemagoers who want John Wick vibes but with more Sergio Tacchini tennis grear. What to expect from this episode: We discuss why Jason Statham won our 2023 king of turds award. Sarah tries to make sense of the shadowy government syndicate lore that claims there is only ever one active Beekeeper. Dan pitches a gritty spin off titled “The Toilet Keeper”. We marvel at the scripts ability to mention the word Beekeeper roughly five thousand times. We look at Josh Hutcherson’s progression from painting himself into a tree to villainous tech bro. Sarah wonders why Iko Uwais isn’t being cast in these roles and what we must do to make that happen. We shall return! On May 18th we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Sarah. The new theme is Liminal Spaces and the first film we're wrapping our heads around is Triangle (2009).  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops any day now. Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    21 min

  3. 4 MAY ·  BONUS

    Best of Identity Movies

    Come in and make yourself at home. Feel free to lie down on the couch and tell us about your mother. If not, why not check in for one last session in our season of films exploring identity. Before we move on to Liminal Spaces in season fifteen, it’s time to revisit some of our favourite chats from the last eight episodes. We dived into the cinematic identity of everyone from Gotham’s elite to ballet dancers losing their grip on reality. We praised the chameleonic genius of Gary Oldman and questioned Liam Neeson’s facial hair. And we explored how personal character is forged through external events involving a taxi driven by a robot Robert Picardo. What to expect from this episode: Dan explains why he curated a season dedicated to the theme of identity in cinema. We remember the year the Crazy Frog infected our culture while Batman began. We debate whether Liam Neeson suits the 90s street magician look. Discussion around Gary Oldman’s career and his transition from True Romance to Slow Horses. A look at why Darren Aronofsky spent a decade trying to turn a werewolf movie into a swan story. Sarah confesses her love for controversial fiction. We revisit the grotesque experience of watching Dennis Quaid devour shrimp in The Substance. Dan reiterates his one and only rule: Jared Leto is only allowed in movies if he’s playing Jeffrey Tambor. We discover a little-known, deep-cut indie flick called Total Recall and its sweaty puppet Kuato. We shall return! On May 18th we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Sarah. The new theme is Liminal Spaces and the first film we're wrapping our heads around is Triangle (2009).  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops any day now. Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1 hr

  4. 27 APR ·  BONUS

    Season Fourteen Wrap Show Preview

    We’ve reached the end of our season on identity in cinema, and frankly, we’re more confused than when we started. But none the less, it’s time for our end of season wrap show preview.  In this “Total Recap”, a name we’re definitely not trying to brand, we swear, we dive into everything from Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins to the horrors of The Substance. We’re dissecting the psychological themes in movies debating nature vs. nurture and asking the hard questions: like why Brian De Palma taped two lenses together for Dressed to Kill and what happens when Lenny Henry kicks off a white face cinematic universe. What to expect from this episode: We recap the entire eight movie lineup, starting with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Discussion around movies that almost made the cut and the risk of making the season 25% Ethan Hawke. The mystery of Lenny Henry’s True Identity is explored as the “proto–White Chicks” The pitfalls of painting your own porn. Sarah tests Dan’s knowledge with a quiz and debate the utility of bats in the Dark Knight trilogy. A look ahead to season 15 which begins May 18th where we’ll be exploring Liminal Spaces, starting with the film Triangle (2009). If you would like to listen to the full episode, head over to Patreon to get access to this and all of our previous wrap shows from seasons 1-13. We shall return! On May 18th we're back with a brand new season. This time chosen by Sarah. The new theme is Liminal Spaces and the first film we're wrapping our heads around is Triangle (2009).  Would you like to see the full lineup for season 15? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup when it drops any day now. Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    16 min

  5. 20 APR

    Total Recall - S14 E114

    Open your mind and join us for one last ride in our Identity season as we discover Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall (1990). We dive into the cinema of Arnold Schwarzenegger, debating if he makes a good secret agent of if he’s too conspicuous for anything other than a bodybuilding competition. Along the way, we pay tribute to the legendary Sharon Stone, the terrifying Michael Ironside, and our ultimate cinematic protector, Dean Norris, who proves he’s a daddy even when he doesn’t have a badge. We explore the corporate satire and brutalist architecture of Mars, while mourning the days when 90s action movies had enough in the squib budget to paint a whole metro station in claret. We tackle the heavy character identities at play, from Ronny Cox’s corporate greed to the dual roles that leave us wondering if you are defined by what you remember, or as Kuato says, “you are what you do”. What to expect from this episode: Discovering this hidden gem that hasn’t been covered by any other podcasts. A recap on the production of Total Recall including the early involvement of Ronald Shusett who acquired the rights from Philip K. Dick. How character identities are forged by memory and why Arnold Scharzenegger is a terrible choice for a spy. We examine the brutalist architecture and corporate satire that define the film’s unique aesthetic. Paying homage to the practical effects genius Rob Bottin. We discuss why Priscilla Allen’s performance as the “Fat Lady” is the glue holding together one of the best scenes in the movie. Dan makes a case for why Dean Norris is the ultimate protector of people. Debate around the “real vs dream” ending and whether that fade-to-white is a definitive lobotomy or a happy ending. We bid farewell to the Identity season and announce our first movie for the new season starting May 18th. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1hr 4min

  6. 13 APR

    American Psycho - S14 E113

    Welcome to the seventh stop on our tour of Identity movies, where we’re discussing the bone-white brilliance of Mary Harron’s American Psycho (2000). In this episode, we get into why this is one of the most misunderstood movies in cinema history. While certain corners of the manosphere, incels and the red pill community treat Patrick Bateman like a looksmaxxing icon, we’re here to remind the dweebs that they’re the butt of the joke. It’s consumerist satire so brazen that it literally starts with blood-red raspberry sauce, yet people still manage to miss the point. We explore the essential feminist touch that director Mary Harron and writer Guinevere Turner brought to the production, turning Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial source material into a sharp psychological horror comedy. We also discuss how Christian Bale delivered a performance for the ages, partly by channelling the unhinged energy of Nicolas Cage in Vampire’s Kiss (a film we’ve previously covered). Expect the usual Shoot the Hostage nonsense as we dog pile Jared Leto once again, try to understand why Justin Theroux’s dancing lives rent free in Dan’s middle-aged memory, and debate whether the potential Luca Guadagnino remake is a masterpiece in waiting or a meaningless and pointless exercise. What to expect from this episode: Broken promises around Jared Leto movies no longer appearing in our lineups. The “magic E” theory that separates a hero like Batman and a villain like Bateman. A deep dive into collective identity and why all these yuppies are just one amorphous blob. How Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner’s feminine insight saved this movie from being a total misfire. The hilarious “business card war” and why we’re all anxious about the “subtle off-white coloring and tasteless thickness” of a rectangle. The connection between Christian Bale in American Psycho and a 1992 Tom Cruise interview. Why Phil Collins provides the ultimate masculine soundtrack. The great debate: Did Patrick Bateman actually kill anyone, or is it all just drawn fantasy? Our collective reluctance to the remake of American Psycho. This season has eight episodes, concluding April 20th Would you like to see the full lineup for season 14? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1hr 17min

  7. 6 APR

    Black Swan - S14 E112

    It’s time to swan-dive into the sixth episode of our Identity season. This week, Dan has chosen to subject us to the dark, grainy and deeply uncomfortable world of Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychodrama, Black Swan. After surviving Requiem for a Dream during our season of films about drugs, we’re back for a second helping of Aronofsky-flavoured self-destruction. We’re talking Natalie Portman in possibly, her career-best role as Nina, a ballerina on a quest for artistic perfection that makes the guy from Whiplash look like a hobbyist. We’ve got Mila Kunis as the seductive Lily, Vincent Cassel playing his creepy Frenchman archetype, Barbara Hershey putting the mother in smother and Winona Ryder who thought she was signing up for a Face/Off sequel. What to expect from this episode: Dan explains why he chose a ballet movie for a season about identity despite usually only watching films about disenfranchised men. A deep dive into why Darren Aronofsky is the undisputed king of making his protagonists suffer for their art. Making connections with Aronofsky’s filmography between self-destruction, loss of innocence and duality. Sarah shares her genuine physical trauma regarding the nail-clipping scene. We discuss the keratin connection between fingernails and feathers that makes the body horror so much worse. Why The Wrestler is the perfect companion piece to Black Swan. We explore the fan theory that Nina’s mother is actually a predator, not just an overbearing show mum. A look at the colour theory and what they represent for the protagonist. This season has eight episodes, concluding April 27th Would you like to see the full lineup for season 14? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1hr 11min

  8. 30 MAR

    Friendship (2024) - S14 E111

    We’ve hit the midpoint of our Identity season, which Dan has effectively turned into a curated gallery of “disenfranchised men,” and our latest target is the A24 cringe comedy masterclass, Friendship (2024.) We explore the desperate lengths someone will go to for a bit of validation and the uncomfortable gap between who we are and the character identities we perform for others. Introducing Craig Waterman, a colour-blind passive man who only wears Ocean View Dining trousers but comes alive when he meets Austin, played by Paul Rudd. What to expect from the episode: We explore why A24 continues to corner the market on gdang weird cinema. Sarah explains why the first ten minutes felt more like a horror movie than a comedy. Dan defends his specific niche for film choices featuring disenfranchised men. We analyse Paul Rudd’s Austin and decide if he’s a cool adventurer or if he’s ticking off a midlife crisis checklist. Unpacking why the speed bump is the funniest recurring motif in the history of cinema. A serious inquiry into whether licking a toad is a viable alternative to therapy for insecure people. We discuss the “Jimp” incident and why it proves that comedic delivery is the only thing standing between a comedy and a psychological horror movie. Debating the character identities of the leads and specifically whether we’re watching a narcissist in the wild or a study in neurodivergent masking. Stay curious Craig. This season has eight episodes, concluding April 27th Would you like to see the full lineup for season 14? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup. If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards. Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy. If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.   Or come find us on social media: Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

    1hr 7min
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About

Welcome to Shoot The Hostage with Sarah & Dan - the movie podcast where we pick one movie at a time and take a deep dive into anything and everything we can. Each season, we dive into a new theme which we take turns in choosing. We tend to choose a diverse pick of films for each season, trying our best to cover different genres & themes. If you’re in the market for a movie podcast with hosts that don’t take themselves too seriously and love films just as much as you, then head over. Take your shoes off and come on in.

Information

  • Creator
    Shoot The Hostage Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    163
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Shoot The Hostage

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