by Robert Scocchi
| Published
There’s nothing like a murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the credits roll without a lazy third-act twist spoiling the fun. 2003 identity The game has almost as much fun with its presentation of crime, as a clever game of chance that repeatedly forces you to second-guess your assumptions about each character. Loosely inspired by Agatha Christie And then there was no one, identity It’s an arena of violent misdirection, clever killings, and reverse chronology that leaves you wondering what’s behind every door and what’s keeping each person holed up in a seedy hotel, wondering if they’ll make it through the night.
review identity For the first time since its theatrical release, I had forgotten most of its finer details and was surprised by how well it holds up decades later. Knowing the score Before getting into this demo, it was still fun to look for clues I might have missed on my first trip.
Two simultaneous conspiracies, and the murder mystery that links them
identity It has a huge number of characters and influences, but it is never overwhelming. We first meet Malcolm Rivers (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a death row inmate suffering from dissociative identity disorder. His recently discovered diary suggests that he was not mentally present during the murders that landed him behind bars. In scenes we remember 12 angry manDr. Malik (Alfred Molina) pleads with the judge and authorities that Malcolm is not fit to be executed due to his questionable mental state.
Meanwhile, the main story begins when… John CusackEd Dakota, a former cop turned chauffeur, transports actress Caroline Susan (Rebecca Demornay) through a pouring rain. When Ed accidentally hits Alice York (Lila Kinzel) while her husband, George (John C. McGinley), is changing a tire, the couple’s young son, Timmy (Brett Loehr), witnesses the accident and retreats into silence in shock.
10 rooms, 10 potential victims
The group takes refuge in a run-down hotel where they meet nervous writer Larry Washington (John Hawkes). Also seeking shelter are newlyweds Lou (William Lee Scott) and Jenny (Clea Duvall), sex worker Paris Nevada (Amanda Peet), and correctional officer Samuel Rhodes (Amanda Peet).Ray Liotta) which transports convict Robert Maine (Jake Busey).
The hotel’s guests begin to die one by one in a brutal manner. Ed and Samuel try to keep everyone calm while searching for answers in an increasingly confined and chaotic environment. The only clue at each crime scene is a room key numbered counting down from 10, a sarcastic message from the killer that no one is safe.
Fun kills in a dangerous environment
Murder in identity Fast, smart and brutal. Each of them is piecing together the puzzle, one violent encounter at a time. As we learn more about each character and what they have in common, the whole setup starts to feel like an intentional trap. Occasionally, the viewer will catch a glimpse of a Malcolm Rivers subplot and know that both stories are connected, but the film takes its time tying them together, building suspense in every frame as everyone at the hotel scrambles for answers before they meet a horrific fate.
identity He’s smart, funny and very good at teasing the audience. Everyone in this sweeping mystery could be guilty, and they all have questionable pasts that will make you think twice before trusting anyone. But the truth doesn’t reveal itself until you’ve ruled out all other options, and even then, she still finds a way to mess with you.
A true crime in every sense of the word. identity It’s now streaming on Netflix.
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