American Hostage

What’s it about?

Fred Heckman is a beloved Indianapolis radio reporter. He is thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis demands to be interviewed on his popular radio news program.

The facts 

• Created by Shawn Ryan (The Night Agent) and Eileen Myers  
• Directed by Adam Arkin (Masters of Sex)
• Starring Jon Hamm (Your Friends and Neighbours), Mireille Enos (The Killing), William Jackson Harper (The Good Place), and Giovanni Ribisi (Sneaky Pete)
• English language 
• Runtime: Episodes are around 45 minutes each, released weekly
• Based on the podcast of the same name

Why did it get this rating? 

This series was self-rated by Neon. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Violence

An agitated man takes a person hostage using a gun with a wire wrapped around their neck.

It is the threat of killing and violence, rather than violence itself, that is present in the first three episodes.

Offensive language

There is frequent offensive language, with prolific use by one character of "f*ck", "f*cking", "motherf*cking", "sh*t", and "c*cksucker".

When content stays with you

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?