Superb shocker with a hell of a twist

Rating: 8/10 (13 September 2015)

Identity is a nasty little shocker with more than a few tricks up its blood soaked sleeves. It rides on a daring concept that only becomes apparent in the final ten minutes of the film, but it's a shattering revelation that floors you. Up until then there's enough nerve spiking tension and plenty of good old fashioned suspense to keep you perked. Its a classic, Hitchcockian setup: Various wayward strangers find themselves stranded at an isolated interstate motel during a torrential rainstorm that wipes out phone reception and forces them to wait out the night. Pretty soon one of them is brutally murdered by an unseen assailant. Then another. And another, until they realize they are being picked off by a savage killer. Sounds like a generic premise, I know, but bear with me. This one shakes you up all to hell when it's finished with you, and will leave your thoughts racing and your arm hairs on end all night. John Cusack plays the bitter ex cop with a tragic past, Amanda Peet the hooker with aspirations, Ray Liotta the tough guy cop (who else?) escorting a weirdo convict (Jake Busey), John Hawkes the auspicious motel proprietor, John C. McGinley the timid family man, Rebecca Demornay the snobby actress, William Lee Scott and Clea Duvall the young Vegas married couple. Is one of them the killer? Or is someone outside their circle preying on them? There's also fine work from Alfred Molina, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Holmes Osborne. As far as guessing game psychological thrillers go, I dare you to arrogantly proclaim the outcome of this baby halfway through; it's just that creative, taking our expectations and strangling the life out of them, the resulting narrative a serpentine treat that pulls the rug from under our feet and smothers us with it. Pure, unfiltered suspense firecracker of a flick.