Identity
2003 Directed by James Mangold
Synopsis
The secret lies within.
Complete strangers stranded at a remote desert motel during a raging storm soon find themselves the target of a deranged murderer. As their numbers thin out, the travelers begin to turn on each other, as each tries to figure out who the killer is.
Cast
Popular reviews
More-
From October: 31 Days, 31 Horrors
Love this film. LOVE IT. So well acted and utterly brilliant. Even though the twist is obvious, it doesn't matter because the way it is slowly unravelled is phenomenal. 90 minutes of fabulousness. -
Film recommended to me by Letterboxd member Ron.
A film with plot twists inside the plot twist. Even if I saw parts of it coming right from the start, I still want to point out how wonderful the story felt, and how great everyone acted.
John Cusack is very on and off, and he's made some pretty bad career moves in his life, but he nailed it in Identity.
The only thing dragging this film down, is the fact that I had most of the ending put together even before the film really started. -
An easy, genre horror flick which suffers from predictability, but succeeds on performances and plenty of deaths!
This movie doesn't strive to be anything more than it is, and it performs admirably. Normally I'm not even a fan of John Cusack, but I think he's quite engaging here!
Perhaps though, the ending is a bit of a cop-out...
-
I saw this when it was released back in 2003 and I still don't think I've seen a film since that kept me guessing like this film did. Director James Mangold cleverly leads the viewer in several very plausible directions as to what's actually going on here and then caps it off with one of my favorite twists ever in a film! It's got a nice ensemble cast who all give very good performances. It's a film that is definitely my type of thing so I probably like it more than a lot of people, but I think it's an excellent entry into the mystery/thriller genre and well worth a watch for anyone who hasn't seen it.
-
This movie has a really cool movie poster, a great cast, and pretty unique twist.
If there were different actors cast, all of the havoc caused at the motel would be hard to stay with. It doesn't really make much sense but the power of the actors helps to keep the audience engaged.
During the introduction of the characters, there is an odd freeze-frame effect before the edit. That each character is introduced "at the same time" is unique. It adds a mystery to the film - this is a darker gathering of people for a mystery than the movie Clue.
Years ago I read When Rabbit Howls, a book with difficult subject matter but interesting insight to a damaged…
-
I'd like to personally thank fellow Letterboxd member Ron for recommending me this film. I was hesitant in checking this out because a long while ago, the ending had been spoiled for me and I didn't think I would be able to enjoy it that much since I knew how it would end. Thankfully, the story is so strong that I was still able to enjoy it. Yes, I knew how it would end, but it was fun watching and guessing just how it would all play out. How the film would take me from Points A to B to C until the end. I was still very invested in the film not just because of the story but the…
Recent reviews
More-
---
-
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
I wish, I wish he’d go away...When I came home last night at three
The man was waiting there for me
But when I looked around the hall
I couldn’t see him there at all!
Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more!
Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door... (slam!)Last night I saw upon the stair
A little man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
Oh, how I wish he’d go away― Hughes Mearns, Antigonish
-
This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
-
A perfectly paced thriller that is, almost, too clever for it's own good. However, I did enjoy thinking I had it completely figured out (a couple of times), before being proven wrong. It was also fun for me, having read Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and being able to pick up on the references.
Identity is very entertaining, but something is missing... and I hated the last five minutes.
-
An easy, genre horror flick which suffers from predictability, but succeeds on performances and plenty of deaths!
This movie doesn't strive to be anything more than it is, and it performs admirably. Normally I'm not even a fan of John Cusack, but I think he's quite engaging here!
Perhaps though, the ending is a bit of a cop-out...
-
Such a great movie! I loved it. And that ending. WOAH.
-
very good mystery/crime movie about mental illness...but with a very unique concept of story tellinghavenot seen anything like that in a while
-
This movie has a really cool movie poster, a great cast, and pretty unique twist.
If there were different actors cast, all of the havoc caused at the motel would be hard to stay with. It doesn't really make much sense but the power of the actors helps to keep the audience engaged.
During the introduction of the characters, there is an odd freeze-frame effect before the edit. That each character is introduced "at the same time" is unique. It adds a mystery to the film - this is a darker gathering of people for a mystery than the movie Clue.
Years ago I read When Rabbit Howls, a book with difficult subject matter but interesting insight to a damaged…
-
A prime example of a potentially silly twist handled well. The final, final twist is silly, but minor. The rest is a well-acted, disciplined thriller.