Identity

  Plot Summary

With flooded roads and telephone lines down, due to a storm, 10 strangers find themselves stranded at a creepy, run-down motel. If that wasn’t bad enough, soon the guests are being bumped off one-by-one. Ex-cop turned chauffeur Ed (John Cusack) and cop (Ray Liotta) try to keep the situation under control and more importantly try to identify the murderer. As events unfold and the body count starts to mount up, things get more and more bizarre. The finger of guilt is turned to each of the guests and the creepy Norman Bates type motel manager Larry (John Hawkes).

Elsewhere there is an appeal of a murderer’s execution and the two events seem to be linked. But nothing is, as it seems…

Review

This movie is far more than just another horror/thriller. Firstly, while there are plenty of gruesome murders the “blood and guts” element is kept to a minimum and the movie concentrates on tension and suspense. In the dark, gloomy atmosphere of the run-down motel with the rain pouring down continuously there are loads of jumps and frights.

On a number of occasions, at the beginning of the movie, certain things happen and then the movie shows how they happened. This is cleverly done and shows the random accidental sequence of events that brings the ten strangers together.

The best thing about the movie is that it keeps you guessing and interested. As the story progresses things start getting a little bizarre and the movie switches from “who-dunnit” to “what-the-hell-is-going-on”!  Just when things are getting too silly the story pulls out it’s trump card and some clever twists and ideas save the whole thing. I certainly didn’t guess the ending but maybe that’s just me!

There are some funny parts in the movie to add a little relief from the tension and also some tongue-in-cheek bits. For example the comparisons between Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” are obvious - the motel itself is like the Bates Motel, complete with creepy manager. Even a shower-curtain is used as a prop!

There is a very strong cast in the movie and all play a part in its success. John Cusack and Ray Liotta play the main characters. John Cusack’s honest character compared to Ray Liotta slightly shady character works perfectly. John Hawkes does a great job as the greasy creepy hotel manager and suspicion falls on him early in the movie!

Among the girls it's Amanda Peet who gets the biggest part but with John Cusack and Ray Liotta taking centre stage it’s hard to get a look in!

Bottom Line: A clever scary thriller that’s well told and acted.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2003

Genre: Thriller

Certificate: 18's

Director: James Mangold

~ Main Cast ~

John Cusack

Ray Liotta

Amanda Peet

Alfred Molina

Rebecca De Mornay

Pruitt Taylor Vince

Jake Busey

John Hawkes

RATING

 4 STARS

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