FORMOSA BETRAYED is better as teaching material than it is a thriller. It's an unashamedly political movie that aims to explore the complex and often murky goings-on in early 1980s Taiwan, where government-sponsored assassinations were more often than not the norm and where the secret war with China continued unabated.
Onto this admittedly intriguing backdrop has been stapled a somewhat straightforward thriller, with American import James Van Der Beek investigating a murder. A whole host of Asian-American actors play in support to either help or hinder him along, and there are some admittedly exciting and/or shocking moments thrown in along the way. However, this is very much a B-picture in feel in terms of style and execution, although that unusual backdrop makes it worth watching.
Onto this admittedly intriguing backdrop has been stapled a somewhat straightforward thriller, with American import James Van Der Beek investigating a murder. A whole host of Asian-American actors play in support to either help or hinder him along, and there are some admittedly exciting and/or shocking moments thrown in along the way. However, this is very much a B-picture in feel in terms of style and execution, although that unusual backdrop makes it worth watching.