MOVIE TITLE: Held Hostage in My House

This dramatic mystery/thriller is now playing on Netflix

RATING: TV-14

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

Held Hostage in My Home is a suspenseful made-for-Netflix thriller that plays on one of our greatest fears of being trapped in what should be the safest place on earth: our own home. When a woman invites a friendly contractor into her house to do some work, things take a dark turn. What follows is a tense battle of wits and survival as she uses every ounce of courage and ingenuity to reclaim her freedom and figure out who tied her up to leave her to be tortured and die alone.

The story follows familiar “Lifetime thriller” beats but keeps viewers engaged with its claustrophobic setting, psychological tension, and moments of unexpected bravery from the heroine. It’s not groundbreaking cinema, but it delivers exactly what fans of the genre expect: danger, deception, and a satisfying dose of justice by the end.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored
Lots of cigarette smoking and alcohol
Talk of divorce
Blood
Violence
Some language
Emotional distress
No nudity or sexual content is shown, though there are implied adult relationships (prostitution and threesomes), and some unsettling behavior from the villain.

THEMES:

Safety vs. vulnerability
Self-reliance and inner strength
Trust and betrayal
Control and power
Trauma and healing
Motherhood
Perception vs Realty
Thoughts vs. truth

THINGS I LIKED:

The protagonist is portrayed as intelligent and resourceful rather than helpless, which is a refreshing take in this genre. I hadn’t seen Amy Smart in anything in quite a while, so it was good to see her again.
The film wastes little time building tension, and the confined setting amplifies the suspense effectively.
Beneath the thrills, there’s an empowering message about self-reliance, intuition, and standing up against manipulation.
Billy Zane’s character was hilarious, inappropriate, and creepy at the same time.
Fans of the handsome Gille Marini will be happy to see him in a cameo performance.
I like that the artwork featured in the movie was revealed to be painted by the real artist Valentina Sarfeh.
One of the taglines of the film is “Not all your thoughts are true.” I’ve noticed that as I age, my thoughts have a way of running rampant, more than they ever did before. This film playfully explores that idea.
There are quite a few characters that seem to have the means and motive for holding the protragonist hostage in her own home. It’s fun to try to figure out the “whodunnit” along with the victim.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

I actually liked the nonlinear storytelling, but I know it confused a lot of people.
If you’ve seen a few Lifetime thrillers, you’ll likely guess the twists early on.
A few scenes stretch believability, especially the true villain’s motivations. It feels overly melodramatic and even ludicrous at times.
While the single-location setting creates tension, it also makes the movie feel visually repetitive at times.
Quite a few viewers I spoke with said they were confused and bored at the same time, calling it the worse movie they ever seen. Ouch.
The original title for the film was “Blunt”. The new title is certainly more descriptive.
The entire time, I was worried that the protagonist would need to go to the bathroom and make a true mess of things. Ick.
You can’t exactly say the protagonist showed great survival skills because she was tied to the bed posts the entire time and could actually do anything but rely on others to save her.

DUMB LINES:

“That’s what you get for rejecting me!”
“If you say anything to anyone, I’ll end you!”
“I’ll get you back for this!”

INTERESTING LINES:

“How did I not see the signs?” – Dawn Van Brocklin (Amy Smart)

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

The House on the Lake – another suspenseful home-invasion drama with a twisty ending.
Stalked by My Doctor – a cult favorite among Lifetime thrillers for its campy tension and memorable villain.
“You” (Netflix series) – explores obsession and psychological manipulation with a darker tone.
Safe Room – a more emotional take on a similar premise with strong performances and a focus on family.