Screenwriting : I need a way of manipulating a hostage. by Craig D Griffiths

Taking of Pelham 123 only the original. Maybe a game of pass the parcel with a ticking time bomb, no clock time only the ticking of the clock, as each hostage takes the bomb the ticking speeds up. Personally for me in hostage films, any of the hostages have to be vulnerable to die at any time.

Don't know about "group interrogations", but some of the best interrogation scenes that I've seen include Marathon Man, True Romance, Casino, A Clockwork Orange, L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects, Old Boy, Reservoir Dogs, Revolver, Casino Royale, Man on Fire, Inglorious Bastards, The Avengers, etc. etc.

And then, of course, are the classic interrogation scenes in There's Something About Mary, Brazil, Hot Shots Part Two, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, and Harold and Kumar Escape from G-Bay. Those are hysterical. "You son of a bitch....you're gonna fry!"

There's a difference between interrogation and torture - I mean "ENHANCED interrogation techniques." ;) I don't fully understand the question, though.

Can't forget the interrogation scene with Captain Stubing in The Salton Sea. "Introduce him to Captain Stubing." Pooh Bear likes ya! What a brilliant film.

One factor is how he came to take hostages. Ie. was it accidental, like a robbery gone wrong or on purpose like in Die Hard? The mental state of the hostage taker will affect what method he uses in manipulating. A scared hostage taker might be angry and quick-tempered and use threats of violence or violence itself. A calm, in control hostage taker may be more sophisticated.

That said, since you say manipulate, I will assume an in-control taker. The best manipulation is to allow the hostage to get something he wants (freedom, money, a fellow hostage) if he does what the taker wants, especially if the taker gives him a moral escape so he doesn't have to feel guilty. Another way is to have a person the hostage cares about separated in a different room and threat is to them, not the hostage being questioned. Just some thoughts. Good luck.

oOo! I had no idea what he meant. Thanks, Daniel! Wait, I think he means the hostage-taker is going to question the hostages? I still don't understand the question. If this were Marathon Man or Reservoir Dogs, I'd be one ear and a few teeth short by now! :D

Thanks everyone. There is a group of hostages. The hostage taker wants to talk to each of the individually. Think of the reality TV show where people vote each other off the show. A good way of him to take each person from the cage and ask them a question and put them back. Gun point just seems clunky. One of the story elements is if they comply they may escape, but I am using the voting off strategy to kill characters.

Does the hostage taker need to take them away and talk to them individually? If he has physical control with gun, he would also gain psychological control so no need to take them off on their own, he could just bring them in front of group and let everyone hear what everyone else says. This would show each character's plea for who to kill off as well as the reactions, group dynamics as well as a nice arc and growing tension.

@Simon, I want them questioned separately. Betrayal is part of the story. People negotiating for their life etc.

@Craig D Griffiths Is it really that hard to get a film made that we've resorted to hostage taking now?

Dan M, heard of that. Sounds like a good idea, if done well. It is like "season 7", a TV show where people kill each other, survivor wins a 1,000,000.

Dan M. Plus I have 12 people hostages. That's at least one murder every 10 minutes. Lol.

Nelson pretty good suggestion. I do love that film. But Sunny is the protagonist. I am trying to have a mechanism for crowd control which is sinister. The hostage taker is a bit like V in V for Vendetta. I will be focusing on the crowd. What I move the most about Dog Day is that it has all that emotion and tension with no sound track. No music to steer emotion, just great writing.

For some reason, Reservoir Dogs comes to mind when I read your post Craig. Not sure it helps, but I hope so.

Brian best torture scene ever. The ultimate touch guys dialogue.

I like Hostage with Bruce Willis, Inside Man, John Q, The Town, Captain Phillips

Note to self, don't upset Natasha.... thanks

Group control... the best way is simple, rig the cage or whatever so the prisinor being questioned will kill the other hostages by attempting to escape (bomb set to detonate if he strays too far, or limited amount of oxygen if he dosn't reenter the prison in time etc)

I think I will have someone step out of line and quickly and without warning be killed. Death with no ceremony, sudden and thoughtless will keep them stressed and compliant. That may feel a bit of a trope, I'll just have to execute it well (no pun intended).

Isn't it fun to be a writer and still be playing make believe at our age? If you posted this question anywhere else, someone would call the police.