User Reviews

I can not believe they have 4 awards.

Bullets that do not make noise. Lack of ambient sound. Extras that move the mouth and there is not even a murmur. Jumps continuity in photography and in the bad script.

In the final escene, after a shooting where almost everyone dies, there is a most ridiculous dialogue. A wounded hunger invites a drink to a police officer who has just met.

Written and directed by Harley Wallen, "Betrayed" marks his seventh film that he has contributed yo both on the screen and behind the camera. The movie itself should be noted that it is filled with an abundance of intense violence and very heavy vulgarity. The film runs just under the 90 minute mark. The film centres around the city of Detroit where the Mayor Alderman (John Savage) invites the Russian into the big city only to know later that they play to their game and that indicates kidnapping young ladies while selling them to prostitution. The Mayor originally hired these Russians to pave way for a cartel to arrive, but the Russians as you may know have other plans which has them eventually kidnap his young daughter, Marie (Kaiti Wallen).

The great thing that stands out about "Betrayed" is that it educates us about the evils of human trafficking. It's bold plus daring that very few people ever talk about. The story for the most part was quite compelling, though the dialogue was very muddled at times. It's demanding to have major and supporting characters to provide us with interesting dialogue that's both smart and informative. But we don't see that here at times. However, the story kept my interest and the characters remained compelling. The tone was quite dark and the feelings we get can be quite spine-chilling. It was expected being that this movie centred around hoodlums and human trafficking, and Wallen set the atmosphere at the right pitch.

Though it runs at a snail's pace, it's on target with the suspense that is provided for us. Sadly, I was hoping for a big payoff in the climax between the Russians and the Cartel. Instead they took the ending on a completely different route. Far for me to complain, it did result in a satisfying ending to the movie, I was just hoping for an electrifying gun fight. The real complaint I have was the constant shaky camera work. It distracted my attention I had for this movie making it off-putting at times.

The cast has lesser known performers like John Savage as Mayor Alderman, Kaiti Wallen as his kidnapped daughter Marie, Richard Tyson as Mr. Stone, Billy Wirth as Mike Wolf who becomes the vigilante in the film, Harley Wallen himself as the leading villain, Mikhail Kovelchek, Sean Rey as Darryl, and Aphrodite Nikolovski as Detective Sandra Miller. Everyone in the ensemble did an impressive job in their respected performances, but I was really invested in Sean Rey's performance. Though he is a card-carrying member of the this sadistic criminal mob, from his expression and body language, we can tell he doesn't want to be there. It's his devotion to the organization that keeps him there. For a villain, there is some subliminal level of sympathy that makes his character compelling.

John Savage who's career spans since the late 1960's does a wonderful job and his veteran talents really come into great effect. Billy Wirth was great in his role as a lone wolf hitman and is succeeds as anti-hero who saves the day in the end. Harley Wallen is wonderful being the villain as he adds that spark to the slimeball demeanour that makes Kovalchek such a loathsome bad guy.

Technical wise, the special effects were frugal in terms of budget, but it didn't ruin the movie at all. Sure the effects come to life during the shootout, but the practical effects were very effective during the exciting torture scene.