It ain't in the story. It's in the telling.

Rating: 7/10 (3 September 2003)

Pouring rain, the dead of night, thunder and lightening, a deserted motel, a cop and his prisoner, a limo driver and an actress, a hooker, a sleazy motel operator, a family of three, a just married couple, etc. Such are the ingredients of this drama horror mystery suspense thriller flick which, as the body count mushrooms, begs the questions who's the killer? Though the plot is unoriginal, "Identity" offers good star power, state-of-the-art technicals, and sufficient intrigue in its circuitous and convulsive denouement to whet the interest of anyone in the mood for a smart blood and guts thriller. As the film plays out, however, some will find the excesses numbing, others will bemoan the absence of the conventional hero vs villain storyline, and still others will be fully engrossed for the duration. (B)