Battlefields have casualties. Death is a possibility but the worst is its nightmares. In Rogue Hostage, US marine Kyle Snowden is haunted by a battlefield memory that has taken a toll on his present. But the film doesn’t ponder much into PTSD. Instead, it majorly focuses on big guns and bombs. The protagonist fights against rogues to protect his family.
Directed by Jon Keeyes and written by Mickey Solis, the film stars talented Tyrese Gibson and witty John Malkovich in the lead roles. But even without a perfect cast and crew, the film has its flaws, majorly the writing, that hinders its engagement.
Plot Summary
Set in a rural US state, the film begins with a battlefield nightmare flashback that wakes up marine Kyle Snowden (Tyrese Gibson). After the frightening incident (the nightmare events), Kyle left the service and now works in Child Protective Services. However, his wife left him for no apparent reasons, and thus, he is the sole guardian of his younger daughter, Angel.
With a feasible premise, the narrative brings in conflict. A rogue group of mercenaries plans to attack Congressmen Sam Nelson (John Malkovich). The leader of the group, Eagan Raize (Christopher Backus), shares a personal enmity with the congressmen. His father, Luther, was Nelson’s business partner who was sent to jail for 18 years in a fraud case. Eagan believes that Nelson ruined his father’s life to take over the business.
Interestingly, Sam Nelson is Kyle’s stepfather and Angel’s grandfather. On the day Eagan attacked Nelson’s store in the town, Kyle, his daughter, and many others happened to be under the same room. Kyle is now required to pick them up again, or else he won’t save the hostages. But picking up again would mean killing people, and is he ready for the bloodshed?
Major Spoilers Ahead
‘Rogue Hostage’ Ending, Explained
On the battlefield, Kyle shot his own partner accidentally. But the remorse was heavy, and it kept deteriorating his sanity. He was never able to pick up a gun again. In fact, the sight of a gun made him lose his mind. But when Eagan attacked the store and planted a bomb in it, Kyle had no other option but to become a marine.
Eagan entered the store with a motive to bring out a change. To seize capitalism and capitalism in his town. He wanted to destroy Nelson and set out an example. However, by the end, none of his big words were supported by his endeavor. He ended up stealing money from the store and taking Sunshine (Luna Lauren Velez) at gunpoint because he was infatuated by her. It is one of the lousiest character sketches of a rogue that I have ever witnessed.
After the murder of Kyle’s companion, Clove from the Child Protective Services, the Spanish kid Manny became Kyle’s responsibility. In a Hollywood action hero avatar, he raided the rogues and saved the day (in an awful action sequence).
Manny was adopted by Kyle until further notice from the court. Shoplifter Mikki steals Nelson’s money that was picked up by Eagan. She shared it with Sunshine and a store worker, hoping to live a better life with it. Nelson tried to convince the officers that it was a planned robbery and not an act of terrorism to get sanctioned for insurance money. However, his efforts went futile, and he lost a huge chunk of his wealth. But, nevertheless, Kyle and Nelson made peace at the end, which was way more important than the store money.
Rogue Hostage is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Jon Keeyes.
