Watch The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton

The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton is a 2015 dramatic war film that follows the true story of Air Force fighter pilot Captain Douglas "Doug" Hegdahl, who's captured and imprisoned at the Hoa Lo Prison ("Hanoi Hilton") during the Vietnam War. The movie, directed by Tim Matheson and written by Mark Valadez, stars Allen Farmer as Hegdahl, James B. Stockdale II as Admiral James Stockdale, and Jeremiah Denton as himself.

The movie depicts the horrors and tortures of the prison camp, as well as the resilience and determination of the American prisoners of war (POWs). Hegdahl is initially held in a dark cell, beaten, and interrogated by his captors. However, his wit and humor soon win over the guards, and he gains the trust of the other prisoners. Hegdahl develops a plan to memorize the names, rank, and serial numbers of all the POWs to gain intelligence that may help the United States military.

The film also follows the story of Admiral James Stockdale, who was also a POW in Hanoi for over seven years. Stockdale is portrayed as a heroic leader who's willing to endure any form of torture to protect his fellow prisoners and uphold the military code of conduct. He is highly respected by his fellow POWs and serves as a mentor to Hegdahl.

Throughout the film, the POWs suffer from malnutrition, disease, and abuse at the hands of their guards. The prisoners develop a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie, often playing games and sharing stories to keep their spirits up. They also try to communicate with each other through code-tapping methods and develop a system to warn each other about approaching guards.

The film takes a few fictional liberties to depict the harshness of the prison camp. For instance, one scene shows a guard shooting a prisoner in the head in front of the other prisoners. Other scenes depict the guards beating and torturing the POWs. While these scenes may not be entirely historically accurate, they give the audience a sense of the brutality that the prisoners faced.

The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton features a few flashbacks to Hegdahl's time before he was captured, including his wedding day and his training as a pilot. These flashbacks help to humanize the characters and show their lives before they were forced into captivity.

The movie is shot in a traditional style, with a focus on the characters and their experiences. The use of lighting and location sets the emotional tone of the film. The soundtrack is composed mainly of orchestral music, which helps to create a sense of suspense during the more intense scenes.

Overall, The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton is an emotional and powerful depiction of the mistreatment and survival of American POWs during the Vietnam War. The film's focus on the stories of individual prisoners helps to illustrate the humanity and bravery of those who were held captive. The performances by Farmer, Stockdale, and Denton are excellent, and the direction by Matheson is solid. The movie is definitely worth checking out for fans of war dramas and true stories.

The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.