Review of Identity (2003) by Susan T — 09 Jun 2011

I'm glad to see the high rating for this film! I'm not used to being "thrown" by plot twists, but I certainly was by the ones in this thriller. Not only does it feature two of my favorite actors--John Cusack ("Ed") and Ray Liotta ("Rhodes"), but the two of them deftly vie for "alpha male" status, in such different ways, it is a real treat to watch them!

John McGinley is underused, as the (maybe) OCD stepfather whose wife John Cusack's character has just run over. Amanda Peet's character, the now-ex-hooker, "Paris" is also very engaging, and you REALLY want to see her get out of this mess, probably with Ed, since they both seem to be the nicest people (and sanest, despite Ed's recurrent migraines, lost time and other troubling details).

Sadly Rebecca DeMornay's turn as "that actress" (slyly referencing Ginger from "Gilligan's Island", I think), is underused too. She is the first victim in this Bates-like, motel-hell (hey! why didn't they use some Frank Zappa here?).

Pruitt Taylor Vince, "Malcolm Rivers" (of X-Files fame) is suitably creepy as the serial killer asking for parole and Alfred Molina is the calm voice (his shrink) in the midst of this maelstrom that involves a LOT more than just rain and floods.

John Hawkes does a brilliant 180 from his role as Bugsy in "The Perfect Storm", who, tragically, ALMOST gets some in a Gloucester bar before heading to certain death, and also another XF alum, but now he's a woman-hating, yet lecherous fraud who runs the motel.

Add the odious con, Jake Busey ("Robert Maine") and you have a very messy recipe for mayhem, fear and disaster...not to mention murders.

Though this plot was supposedly lifted from Agatha Christie's "And Then There were None", I doubt she had anything like THIS in mind!

The best way to watch this is to put your mind on "hold" and go along for the ride!