Shoot The Hostage

Shoot The Hostage Podcast
  • 4.0 (1)
  • FILM REVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 5D AGO ·  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

  2. APR 27 ·  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

  3. APR 20

    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

    1h 4m

  4. APR 13

    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

    1h 17m

  5. APR 6

    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

    1h 11m

  6. MAR 30

    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

    1h 7m

  7. MAR 23

    The Substance - S14 E110

    Inject this into your ears and pray that a better version of yourself doesn’t pop out of your spine. We’ve reached the fourth episode in Dan’s Identity season where we’re discussing Coralie Fargeat’s the Substance (2024). This isn’t one of those slow French movies where characters meditate on a fireplace for three hours, it’s an $18 million bloodbath that treats Hollywood beauty standards like a personal insult. Demi Moore delivers a career defining turn as Elizabeth Sparkle, while Margaret Qualley provides the ultimate “parasitic” companion for anyone struggling with character identities. Between Dennis Quaid behaving like a pig with a plate of prawns and a third act that left our jaws on the flaw, this film proves why body horror is best served with a side of satire and some very expensive tile work. What to expect from this episode: We reveal why we watched the trailer 28 times and still weren’t prepared. Sarah explains her cynical view on why children are basically parasites. Explanation for why babies aren’t born with names. Attempts to pronounce Coralie Fargeat’s name at least four different ways. Discussion around Hollywood beauty standards. We decide whether this film is style over substance or a masterpiece of the crunchy and wet variety. Chat about why Dennis Quaid’s eating habits are the real horror of the movie. Explaining why Dennis Quaid’s tobacco-stained teeth are the real horror of the movie. Pondering why Dennis Quaid’s character name is the real horror of the movie. 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

    1h 23m

  8. MAR 16

    Dressed to Kill - S14 E109

    Welcome back to Shoot the Hostage! We are three episodes deep into Dan’s Identity season, and things are getting… well, icky. This week, we’re tackling Brian De Palma’s 1980 classic/controversy magnet, Dressed to Kill. Retroactively functioning as a best of De Palma, this film features many of the hallmarks you would expect from the director – voyeurism, shower scenes, and enough split diopter shots to make you feel like your eyeballs are watching separate movies. Join us as we unpack this 80s slasher-adjacent thriller. We discuss why Nancy Allen deserved better than a Razzy nomination, and how Angie Dickinson proves that being nearly 50 is the new 21. We also dive into the character identities and why the twist is about as subtle as a brick to the face. Plus, we explore why watching movies on Tubi means being interrupted by Danica Patrick trying to sell us car insurance. What to expect from this episode: Why Brian De Palma is basically a giant pervert with a very expensive camera. Dan’s “bonfire of opinions” regarding the 10-minute dialogue-free art gallery scene. A breakdown of why a binary calculator that only holds 20 numbers is the worst invention ever. Sarah’s internal struggle between Michael Caine being a “Tory” and being a “Great.” A dive into 80s slasher tropes and why this is basically Psycho with more pubic hair. The mystery of whose leg is on the movie poster. A completely unsolicited but necessary tangent about Andrew MacCarthy and the movie Mannequin. Our attempts to sensitively navigate this films “Wild West” approach to transgender representation. Why Nancy Allen kicking a bloke in the balls is the peak of her filmography. 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

    1 hr
See All (161)

Trailers

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
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Shoot The Hostage

You Might Also Like