A hijacked plane, a dying grandkid, and Wings Hauser with a mullet. 80s action doesn't apologize.
The leader of a South African Nation is imprisoned. His followers, led by Zabo, hijack a plane with the intent to use the passengers as hostages to trade for his release. They select a plane carrying a religious leader to use as their main hostage. They soon learn that they have an added bonus of the daughter and grandson of Colonel Shaw, a bigwig in the country. The grandson all the while has to cope with the dual problems of being hijacked and held hostage while needing a kidney transplant. The hijackers have everything in their favor, except that the colonel's daughter is the sweetheart of Major Sam Striker. Striker puts together a band of mercenaries and sets about freeing the hostages.
Acting
Wings Hauser commits to every absurd line like it's Shakespeare.
Production
South African locations give it accidental documentary texture.
Writing
Kidney transplant deadline as ticking clock is unhinged genius.
Director
Hanro Möhr
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Percival Rubens also directed the cult horror 'The Demon' (1979), explaining the occasional slasher-adjacent tension.
Shot in South Africa during apartheid with local crew; the political subtext becomes unintentional time capsule.
US
