IDENTITY

"IDENTITY" is a most enjoyable and unusual cleverly written murder mystery thriller in the Hitchcock tradition with a touch of Agatha Christie thrown in. The film was expertly directed by James Mangold. Most of the action takes place in an isolated motel (shades of "Psycho" here) where 10 unrelated travellers are stranded in a harsh thunderstorm one night. Are they there by chance or is there a more sinister and complicated reason than that? Are they linked in some other way unknown to them? One by one the strangers are murdered for no apparent reason in a theme similar to Agatha Christie's famous classic "And Then There Were None" (1945). In fact a character in the movie actually mentions this film to one of her fellow travellers. If you enjoy thrillers I can certainly recommend "Identity" but you will need to concentrate fully to appreciate all its many plot twists, turns and surprises. The entire cast give superb performances including John Cusack who plays a limo driver, Rebecca DeMornay (an 80's pampered TV star), Ray Liotta (a cop transporting a dangerous criminal to jail), Jake Busey (the criminal), Amanda Peet (a call girl), and various others including a pair of newly weds and a family in trouble. The motel is run by an agitated and nervous night manager (John Hawkes) who is not all he seems. Is there any connection between the 10 strangers and what is the significance of the motel keys found with each body? To top it all "Identity" comes up with one of the best shock endings I have seen for some time. In true Hitchcock tradition clues are given here and there and several flashbacks add to the mystery. A very clever and intriguing plot helps to make this film a gratifying experience. Five stars.
Favourite lines:
John Cusack (voiceover): "As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again to-day. I wish, I wish he'd go away".
Clea DuVall (to group); "Remember that movie where the ten strangers went to an island and then they all died one by one and then it turned out they weren't strangers, but they all had a connection?".
Rebecca De Mornay (to Cusack): "I'm not staying here. Are you out of your mind? This is my car. You work for me!".
Cusack (to John Hawkes): "He's unconscious Larry. He's tied to a post".
DuVall (to William Lee Scott): "Something is happening - I want to get out of here!".