The reaction of Chinese audiences, who saw the film at more than ten showings in cultural and community centers in locations such as Hsinchu, Kaohsiung and Taipei, was very different from that of the Amis of Talu-an. Laway says, "Some people felt so bad they cried; most of the audience angrily asked 'What is the government doing?'
相較於阿美族人的反應，曾於新竹、高雄、台北等文化中心、社區團體公開播放十多場次的《打鹿岸》，漢人觀影的反應卻是大不相同，陳誠元說：「有些人難過的哭了，大多數的觀眾都氣憤的說『政府在做什麼！』