| Posted by: Golden Ghost at July 2, 2003, 12:38 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Identity Forum: JoBlo | | A Film Review of... IDENTITY (8/10) No Spoilers Attatched Caught in a savage rainstorm, ten travelers are forced to seek refuge at a strange desert motel. They soon realize they've found anything but shelter. There is a killer among them and, one by one, they are murdered. As the storm rages on and the dead begin to outnumber the living, one thing becomes clear: Each of them was drawn to the motel, not by accident or circumstance, but by forces beyond imagination, forces that promise anyone who survives a mind-bending and terrifying destiny. I went into IDENTITY expecting an updated version of the film CLUE, only with a dollop more scares a pinch of more mystery. Our story begins with the gathering of our 10 characters who we stick with throughout, cleverly showing us it was more than coinsidence that they ended up at the motel on that dark stormy night. The pace picks up rather quick and the guests start getting bumped off in a fresh and inventive style (baseball bats, a rather large hunting knife, hits 'n' runs...) In the middle of the film I thought I had it all figured out and then it would throw me off the high-horse. Things started to get a little stranger and alot more thinking was required from my noggin'. 10 more brain-picking minutes later, I had become fed up of guessing and just let the film roll. By the conclusion, I was very impressed at the twist which I wasn't expecting from the beginining but smelt half-way through when things started getting complicated. It took me a while to make things clear well long after. James Mangold succeeded in creating a beautifully gloomy and tense atmosphere with the rain and thunderstorms playing throughout. It also has an impressive cast line-up; John Cusack, Ray Liotta and Amanda Peet showing off talent to their extent. There's even some dark humour thrown in from the Motel Manager "I wish I had beige" he says whilst John Cusack sews up a victims wound in the neck. However, the film didn't succeed in being scary, mostly shocking and surprising. There are a bundle of "What the--" moments. I think it's problem in which it struggled was that it was extremely cliched and predictable except from the great twists. In a nutshell, IDENTITY was eye-opening, attractive, engrossing, thrilling film experience with an unpredicatble twist which will catch you off-guard. A second viewing will make things more clear but won't have the same effect. |
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