Sweet Hostage is another excellent example of a seventies made for TV movie. There were a lot of great TV movies made during what is probably the richest decade for great movies, although this one stands out a little from many as it is both feature length and feels every bit like a 'proper' movie, not a made for TV one. The plot focuses on the idea of 'Stockholm Syndrome' and we follow a young girl who is kidnapped by an escaped mental patient but ends up falling in love with him along the way. The film doesn't really appear to have any real point to make, but the way that everything plays out is always interesting and that is mostly thanks to the two lead performances which are excellent throughout. Martin Sheen gives a lively performance as the escaped mental patient and actually manages to make his character realistic in spite of the over the top script. Linda Blair is also very good as the kidnapped young girl and has a good chemistry with Sheen. The film is a little under ambitious and that's a shame as it does feel like more could have been made out of this plot; but what we do end up with is an undoubtedly successful drama and I enjoyed this movie on the whole.
Review of Sweet Hostage
