The Betrayed (2008)

Talking to a family friend about my dad getting the Spanish Horror Timecrimes,I got told about a very similar movie starring Melissa George called Triangle. While finding out details between the two,I spotted a film starring George which has not come out on UK DVD, that was about to leave Netflix UK,which led to me getting set to witness the betrayal.The plot:Driving to the airport to pick up her husband Kevin,Jamie and her son Michael get caught in a crash that knocks them out. Waking up,Jamie finds herself being held hostage in a secret location. Screaming out to ask the kidnappers what they want,Jamie soon learns that Kevin has betrayed her trust.View on the film:Held captive in one room, Melissa George gives a captivating performance as Jamie. Terrified over the hostage takers watching her every move,George subtly expresses the sharp determination that grips Jamie as the betrayal becomes clear. Speaking behind a door for the opening 30 minutes, Oded Fehr gives a wonderfully creepy performance as Alec/"The Voice",whose voice is given a calculating menace by Fehr.Initially looking like a "Torture Horror" flick,writer/director Amanda Gusack puts the saw down,and turns the screws to a psychological Thriller. Keeping Jamie in one room,the screenplay by Gusack brings to light brief flashback that delve into the things Kevin has kept out of Jamie's sight. Keeping the dialogue brittle, Gusack makes each revelation Alec makes one that coils Jamie's sense of betrayal. Locked in the room with Jamie,Gusack and cinematographer Roger Vernon cover the walls in a metallic grey cutting Jamie off from the world,as Jamie starts to plan her own betrayal.

The first word that comes to mind after watching The Betrayed is "Wow." I'll admit that I wasn't expecting much from this film, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the end of this suspense-filled thriller. Amanda Gusack does an incredible job. Her script grabs you in a head-lock, while her direction repeatedly punches you right in the brain. I yelled "Hell Yes!" at least 7 times during this incredible movie.Melissa George stars as Jamie Taylor, a young mother who mysteriously wakes up as a captive of a very dangerous crime syndicate. They want information about her husband, and they're using her son's safety to get it. Can Jamie unravel the clues about her husband's secret life before times runs out? Is there any way to assure her son's safety and her life? Is there anyone she can trust? The answers to these questions will shock you!This kidnapping film will kidnap your heart, hold your brain hostage, and take your nerves for ransom. Melissa George does an incredible job as Mrs. Taylor. The gritty nature of this flick works perfectly with the dark script. In a film in which nothing is sure, there's one thing you can count on, and that's thrills. Watch this movie.

Well the preceding review seems to have been written by the director's ex, because this is a really good movie. Excellent performance from all the cast, impressive dialogue and story keeps you guessing till the very end. Am just glad I trusted the video preview rather than their review and it's really sad to see efforts as good as this being panned so terribly. it really is unfair to the makers of the movie.Doesn't take itself too serious and it's kept me up through the middle of the night, believe me that's some feat. The last low budget (relatively) movie I saw that was as good as this is The Mist.If this is a one star out of ten for anyone then the Heavens will have to come down for any movie to be worth a two star for them. WATCH THIS MOVIE ASAP and you won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty clearly dealing with a low budget, this film manages to spend the money wisely, on script and actors who know how. A woman is abducted with her child, by people who want the money her husband stole from a crime syndicate. She thought he was just a struggling restaurant owner. What can she believe, and who can she trust? Set almost exclusively in the room in which she's detained, this turns into a pretty nifty little drama. There are a few plot holes, but they're minor, and didn't drive me out of the movie. The acting is occasionally stereotypical of a "type", but most of the characters are believable and well-portrayed.This is considerably better than some big-budget stuff I've seen lately - well worth a few hours of your time.