smart & suspenseful

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2003)

A surprisingly suspenseful thriller that borrows heavily from Christie & Hitchcock, but is more original than one would expect. The diverse cast is great (especially old reliables Cusack, Liotta & McGinley) & there are genuinely funny & scary moments, throughout. James Mangold's setup & the way he introduces us to this motley crew of soon-to-be victims is both original & effective.
I can imagine how some would find the inevitable 'twist' ending nonsensical, but it'll at least leave you wondering if it all does make sense. While it negatively impacts the film's conclusion & everything that happened before it, it's still a doozy. Regardless, up until that point, you'll find yourself clutching your seat as the ensemble cast is picked off, one by one. Can you guess whodunit? Guess again.
*** 1/2 (out of 5)