gridoon2024 Review of Betrayed

Betrayed (1988)

Disturbing political thriller from an expert of the genre

[6/10 · 17 July 2016]

"Betrayed" has a gripping start but for a while after that it seems like it's not up to much (maybe because the trailer gives away too much of the plot)....gradually it emerges as a disturbing, thought-provoking and emotionally complex (even the title is ambivalent) political thriller. This may be Joe Eszterhas' weightiest script ever, though it does require major suspension of disbelief at some points. Costa Gavras directs with old-fashioned efficiency (the "hunting" sequence is harrowing), and the two leads, especially Tom Berenger, give their roles more dimensions that you might expect from reading the basic outline of the plot. All in all, it's a flawed but underrated movie. **1/2 out of 4.