Identity - A Movie Review

I knew we shouldn’t have come to this hotel. There’s no telling where the killer is.

Identity is a 2003 mystery thriller. Ten strangers are stranded at a motel on a stormy evening. One by one, they fall victim to an unknown killer. Putting together the puzzle pieces, there is only a matter of time.

Horror films that are set in motels are my favorite. Anything can happen. Plus, these types of mysteries are all about the characters. It does a terrific job establishing the characters, along with the chilling mystery. Identity is a suspenseful and engaging film that is not about what you think it is about.

The ensemble of Identity is unforgettable. The characters are diverse keeping audiences entertained in this gripping story. John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Clea DuVall, William Lee Scott, Rebecca De Mornay, Leila Kenzle, John C. McGinley, Jake Busey, and Bret Loehr grasped their character.

Everybody stands out in the cast no matter how small their part is. Character films like Identity challenge audiences on who they look up to. Do you trust this character because you relate to them?

Interactions among this group are essential. Along with their motivations. Few make the effort to get to know the other. Or they’ll immediately judge before knowing based on appearance or background. As the night continues, the group learns that they have more in common than they realized.

Ray Liotta’s role needs to be talked about more. Liotta performs as a police officer who is transporting a murder convict. Developing an aggressive personality, there are subtle clues that declare there is something off about him.

Other credits to include are Alfred Molina, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Carmen Argenziano, Marshall Bell, and Matt Letscher. There is not just one story going on. That’s the best part of movies. Honestly, if only one story took place the story would get boring.

The cast had to do a lot of running around the muddy grounds in the pouring rain of the motel. Motel settings are the best. At this old rundown motel with the numbers to the rooms changing, rain pouring from the sky, and the dead phone lines someone is stalking them.

Writers chalked the story with utter suspense, never slowing down the action once. That is a suspenseful mystery thriller. Every mystery story needs a good twist. The murder story is set up properly. With twists and turns, some viewers may find the storyline confusing which is why it is necessary to watch Identity a second time. I enjoyed this film because it kept me guessing until the very end.

James Mangold brought a suspenseful feature to the big screen. Mystery thrillers are an important genre. Not only did he work well with his actors, but with the editing of the story. He carefully wove the story of the film so that audiences wouldn’t guess until the final second. Mangold did an exceptional job making audiences feel like they were a part of this story in a riveting stormy evening.

The beginning of the film is what brings an audience in, knowing that they are in for a suspenseful ride. One complaint that I had was that a creative storytelling technique was used at the beginning of the film, but then it was forgotten. This interweaving technique could have been used more.

Identity is underrated that is for sure. Suspenseful until the climax, it takes some time to fully understand the real meaning behind it all. There is not too much gore. For all you mystery and thriller lovers, watch Identity on your Friday evening.