“Identity” (Columbia Pictures)
“Identity” is a “slasher” movie that moves to the next level thanks to an excellent cast and a gripping plot. This movie will grab you from the start and hold you in a vise of suspense until the last frame of film rolls through the camera. It is shocking and stunning, but in the end it makes absolute sense. And that is a hallmark of great moviemaking!
The film starts with news that a serial killer is to be transported to a hearing on the eve of his execution. It seems there have been new doubts raised as to his sanity. While this is happening a car speeds through the night towards a washed out road. Ed (John Cusack) is the driver of the car, and he is driving an actress (Rebecca DeMornay) to a destination many miles away.
With the road out he and the actress end up at a worn out, run down motel. The desk clerk is named Larry (John Hawkes) and he is an addled person who keeps giving shifty looks to the newcomers. These eventually include a woman who is injured in an automobile accident, her husband (John C McGinley) and son (Brett Loehr).
Later arrivals include a prostitute (Amanda Peet) and a young couple who just got married (Clea DuVall and William Lee Scott). A police officer (Ray Liotta) and his prisoner (Jake Busey) have also been stranded at the motel.
The travelers settle in for a long night to wait until the rains stop and the floodwaters recede. But shortly after they get to their rooms a killer begins to kill them one by one. As each death occurs the panic grips the others more intently. They struggle to find a common denominator between them and come up with a reason that is strange but may be true. They all share the same birth date.
As the facts of the story come to light the confusion on the part of the audience grows. Finally the last piece of the puzzle is given and it all makes wonderful, hysterical sense.
Cusack and his fine cast of co-actors have never been better than they are in their individual parts. And this is true for Cusack too. He is at his twitchiest best. So is Liotta and in a smaller part, so is Pruitt Taylor Vince.
The movie is rated R for profanity and violence.
There is a bit of gore but the movie is more suspenseful than explicit. You will be on the edge of your seat but it will be with dread more than actual horrific events.
If you like suspense thrillers, you have got to see this movie. It is an instant classic and one that will remain in your mind for days and weeks to come. Don’t miss it, for movies this good don’t come along that often.
I scored “Identity” a mistaken 9 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
