IDENTITY

Director: James Mangold (Girl Interupted, Cop Land, Kate & Leopold)
Starring: Ensemble incl. John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Rebecca DeMornay

Identity is a film with a fine modern twist on the classic who-dunnit. It's also a bit of a slasher film. John Cusack and Ray Liotta lead a cast of 10 characters trapped at a spooky motel in the middle of the obligatory rain-storm. One-by-one (or occasionally two-by-two) the list of characters grows shorter as they get killed in various horrific ways. Who's the murderer? That's the question. Really, it does a very good job of keeping you guessing through most of the movie. It also provides a goodly number of shocks to get you jumping in your seat. That's what this film is all about, and it succeeded in its goal. The surprise ending fell just a bit flat, but since these sorts of stories are about the moment to moment creepiness, it was still very entertaining. A good, solid, popcorn-eater of a movie.

Standouts: Solid across-the-board production, acting, story, etc. Creepy and intriguing.
Blowouts: Not too much to complain about. It landed very near to where the story aimed.

Grade: B+