Thinker's Thriller!

Rating: 7/10 (31 October 2003)

When you watch "Identity", you immediately think of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians". While its similar in theme, Director James Mangold adds some interesting psychological twists.
The story is essentially about ten strangers who are thrown together at a seedy motel on a rainy night somewhere in Nevada. First we meet the motel manager Larry (John Hawkes) who is contemplating a slow night as he gulps down another glass of whiskey. At various stages arrive, the York family, George (John C. McGinley), his wife Alice (Leila Kenzle) who has been involved in an accident, and their young son Timmy (Bret Loehr). They are followed by a limo driver Ed (John Cusack), his passenger an over the hill actress (Rebecca De Mornay) and a hooker Paris (Amanda Peet) whom they picked up on the road. Also taking refuge from the storm is a newly married couple Ginny (Clea DuVall) and Lou (William Lee Scott). Finally a police officer Rhodes (Ray Liotta) and his prisoner (Jake Busey) arrive.
Suddenly, gruesome murders begin happening as the ten begin to turn up dead one by one, by one means or another. The comment element is that room keys in descending order from 10 to 1 are found on each of the victims. The murderer remains a mystery although you may have your own suspect(s).
Running parallel to this story is one about a last minute hearing for a convicted mass murderer Malcolm Rivers (Pruitt Taylor Vince) in a chilling performance, who is to be executed the next day. His psychiatrist Dr. Malick (Alfred Molina) is trying to convince a judge (Holmes Osborne) that his patient was not responsible for the crimes that he was accused of due to newly discovered evidence. What this has to do with the main story becomes clearer as the movie progresses.
The acting in this movie is top notch from top to bottom and the direction is excellent. I'll give you a little advice though. Pay attention to the opening credit sequence. It will help explain things once you have seen the ending.
The DVD release has an alternate ending with an additional scene but it adds little to an already exciting thriller.