Identity

Two, seemingly unconnected, plotlines run throughout Identity. In one ten travellers are forced to seek shelter in a remote motel following a sudden torrential downpour. It soon turns out that there may be killer among them as one by one the guests start to go missing. Meanwhile in an office elsewhere a late appeal is being heard to decide the fate of serial killer Malcolm Rivers.

Featuring an excellent cast Identity does an excellent job of keeping the audience guessing throughout, almost everyone seemingly becoming the number one suspect at some point. When the reality eventually unfolds it is a truly unexpected twist that importantly holds up on second viewing. A tense, clever thriller Identity is certainly one to watch.

I love a good thriller, but a good thriller needs to keep me guessing until the end, (at least the first time I watch it.) Identity is an excellent thriller.
The plot is so well thought out, so contrived, but also so intelligent that however many times I watch it, I marvel at the incredible imagination of the writer (Michael Cooney).
It's unusual in that it seems to tell two different unrelated stories: one of them very reminiscent of the old Agatha Christie 'Ten Little Indians'/'And Then There Were None' theme.
The other story running in parallel to that seems to have no connection whatsoever; that is until it all comes together at that "aaaah!" moment, but even then there are shocks and surprises to come.

I have been a big fan of this film since it first came out and it has a fantastic twist halfway through that I reckon would probably make or break the whole film for you - but I loved it!!

As a late night court session meets to determine the fate of mentally ill convicted serial killer Malcolm Rivers due to new evidence that may save him from the death penalty, the events of ten strangers lives collide elsewhere to bring them all together in a quiet Nevada desert motel in the middle of a thunderous rainstorm. Then, they each begin to die horrifically, seemingly to someone's plan - how are the two connected? Probably not how you'd think they are.

Director James Mangold expertly sets the scene up in the first 20 mins, using a cool cross-cutting technique to show how everyone arrives at the motel, then all the mayhem breaks loose in a thrillingly pacy mid-section leading up to the twist and the final headlong rush into the finale, with a cracking final twist in the last moments. The cast is packed with famous faces and they all work great together - Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Rebecca DeMornay, 'Scrubs' John C McGinley and all the others are great.

The DVD has a decent extras package, and I would recommend anyone who buys it listens to the engaging commentary of writer Micheal Cooney who does a great job of tying up any loose ends you might have after watching. It's one of the better commentaries I've listened to.

10/10 - I recommend it to anyone.

A very clever, very well thought out and executed movie involving the almost fate like coming together of a small group of people who all share similar traits to one another. Great performances from the two leading actors Liotta and Cusack, a solid script and edgy atmosphere all help to make this little gem unforgettable. For those of you who are keen eyed, there is a small clue at the start of the movie which gives the whole story away but you have to know what you are looking for. The underlying basis of the story leans heavily on one of many theories by Jean-Paul Sartre the French existentialist philosopher and the way this movie interrupts the theory is interesting. A dark atmosphere, a rain drenched motel and rising body count are the least of your worries when strange things begin to happen. The final answer is shocking.