"Hostile Takeover", in my country inconspicuously released on DVD as "Office Party", is a curious and slow but nevertheless captivating little thriller that – somewhat understandably – became forgotten amidst the tremendous offer of grim thriller/horror flicks during the late 1980's. I wouldn't go as far to call this a hidden gem, but it definitely deserves some recognition from cult fanatics for a couple of reasons. The premise is quirky but tense, the atmosphere is unsettling throughout and – most of all – the cast list contains the names of no less than three iconic but still sadly underrated B-movie veterans. Any 80's genre flick uniting David Warner ("The Omen", "The Company of Wolves"), Michael Ironside ("Scanners", "Visiting Hours") and John Vernon ("Killer Klowns from Outer Space", "Chained Heat") is bound to raise the interest of people, right? Even the director's name George Mihalka might ring a bell inside horror regulars' heads, as he directed the slasher classic "My Bloody Valentine" earlier that decade. But actually I have to stop promoting "Hostile Takeover" as a film in the horror genre. It's an urban drama/thriller with psychological ambitions and a strong emphasis on character development. David Warner is impressive as Eugene; a lonely and colorless individual who works as an insignificant office clerk for a company full of egocentric and hungry-for-power people. After working overtime on a Saturday, Eugene unexpectedly seals off the exit and holds three of his colleagues – including the manager - hostage at gunpoint. Police forces and local authorities arrive at the scene, but Eugene strangely doesn't make any demands. He just wants to be the one deciding when the hostage is over and literally doesn't respond to any of police commissioner Smolen's attempts to negotiate. Inside the office building tension rises particularly between the hostages and it rapidly shows that Eugene is actually the employee with the least amount of mental issues. As said, "Hostile Takeover" is an admirable effort, but in case you're looking for bloodied action and/or non-stop violence you might feel cheated in the end. The script, apparently adapted from a novel, accentuates the greed and selfishness of the business world and the indifference of politicians & Special Police Units, but these themes certainly aren't new and also rather unusual for a B-movie. The climax does feature a bit of extreme violence, but that's not what the movie should be remembered for.
