| Posted by: Puck Bond at May 8, 2003, 3:11 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Identity Forum: JoBlo | | Identity is a creepy, suspenseful and smart thriller with a Hitchcockian plot that should be entertaining and intriguing to anyone who knows nothing about the film beforehand. Unfortunately, before I saw this film yesterday I stumbled onto a post on this site, where somebody mentioned who "the killer" was in this film. Although the journey of this film is very good which was full of suspense and atmosphere, knowing what I already knew really took me away from what would be the eventual plot twist and emotional impact of the conclusion of this film...and by the end I fealt a little bit cheated. The story involves 10 strangers who wind up stranded at a Nevada motel amidst a torrentual rainstorm. They include a feisty hooker played by the wonderful Amanda Peete, a family who get a flat tire, which includes father John C. McGinley, his wife and a small quiet child. While they are changing the tire...the wife gets hit by a passing limo driven by ex-cop Ed played by the always good John Cusack(and real standout of the film), who is driving a has-been and arrogant actress played by Rebecca Demornay(almost unrecognizeable but very effective). There is also the "manager" of the hotel, who really hates trash! When Ed goes to get help he runs into a young recently married couple which include Clea Duvall...and eventually a "cop" played by the very good Ray Liotta, who is transporting a convicted murderer. Meanwhile ajudge is summoned in the middle of the night to the hearing of a serial killer who is undergoing a psyche evaluation by a doctor played by Alfred Molina. We assume and lead to believe that these two events are happening on the same night, and that there is obviously a connection. The begining of this film is great and the first 2/3 of the film are excellent...the suspense and atmosphere add to what seems to be a simple slasher story where 10 people are slowly eliminated until we know who did it. It turns out to be much more than that and in retrospect the "twist" makes absolute sense to what seems to be simple plot holes in the story....now if you are reading this you have probably already seen it or read all the other reviews on here. It is revealed that these are all characters in the mind of the serial killer who is at the psyche evaluation. Everything that goes on at the motel is all in his imagination, it explains the non-stop rain, the fact that Jake Busey escapes only to wind up at the motel again, the bodies go missing without a trace etc. All these things would need an explanation, but in an imagined world anything and everything is possible! When it is revealed to us what is really going on I really didn't care that it was the kid in the end, because it wasn't real. Just part of a multiple personality mind game in the guys head. In that way I fealt like well...it didn't really matter at that point. But as i said before that has to be the case for the motel part of the story to work. I just think they revealed the twist too early...Overall, Identity is a very interesting, atmospheric and creepy thriller with one hell of a twist. It features a very strong cast with very good performances by John Cusack, Ray Liotta and Amanda Peete. I wish I could say I loved it, but unfortunately for me I knew too much going in. |
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