Psycho thriller 'Identity' turns out to be psychological and smarter than its cliches

Rating: Null/10 (5 September 2003)

Identity (2003) John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, Rebecca De Mornay, John C. McGinley, John Hawkes, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, D: James Mangold.
A storm strands ten strangers, who somehow are connected, at a shabby Nevada motel on a dark, rainy night-and one of them is a killer. There's more to the story than you think.
Clichéd, sometimes-predictable storyline from Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians is smarter than the formula and lifted by suspense and intelligent twists. A supreme cast plays a snooty actress, a limo driver, a washout hooker, unhappy newlyweds, a frantic family, a cop and his transporting con, and the uneasy manager.
Running Time: 90 minutes and rated R for strong violence and language.

RATING: ** ½ (out of ****)