Identity movie review - Aussieboyreviews
DOES IDENTITY STRAND STRANGERS IN A GRIPPING MURDER MYSTERY?
This serial killer mystery-thriller focusing on a group of strangers stranded at a motel in a Friday-the-13th-like fashion is smart, gripping and very unexpected. The cast shine together and the film is very entertaining.
Storyline
When a wild storm forces ten strangers to seek refuge at an isolated motel, they struggle to identify a serial killer when they find themselves being killed off one by one.
Movie Images
Movie details
Director: James Mangold
Cast: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Clea DuVall, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Alfred Molina, Bret Loehr
Writer: Michael Cooney
Release Date (Australia): 28 August 2003
Runtime: 90 minutes/1h 30m
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Language: English
CONTENT GUIDE (warning: May contain spoilers)
The film contains themes and depictions of murder.
The film features multiple bloody depictions of mutilated corpses, as well as people being shot and stabbed.
The film features use of the word “f**k”, in addition to use of the words “s**t”, “goddamn”, “hell”, “bitch” and “whore”.
None.
There is a brief magazine photo that features a woman’s partially exposed breasts.
The film contains verbal references to a woman being a prostitute and very mild depictions of sexualised imagery.
mpaa rating
R (for strong violence and language)
Aussie boy's thoughts
Due to the excellent crafting and designing of the film, Identity is an absorbing serial killer mystery with a cast that glimmer together. Lead by the spectacular direction by James Mangold, from a screenplay written by Michael Cooney and loosely based of a book by Agatha Christie, the film is set in the middle of a wild rainstorm and centres on ten strangers stranded in a hotel, but they soon realise they’re being killed off one by one.
Without a doubt, this obviously isn’t a kids’ movie, but despite some bloody violence, it’s a great selection for young teens and up who want to explore the thrilling mystery genre. And alike The Sixth Sense, Identity ends with a startling twist that’s completely original and therefore, unpredictable. It’s a very entertaining and fast-paced serial killer movie, and it’s definitely worth watching since it doesn’t take up too much of your time, but still surprises.
Another element that just feels completely unnoticeable at the end is that since it was released in 2003, it’s quite old-styled, with the unimproved effects of today’s big movies or blockbusters. The way the rainstorm is depicted, mainly with the flashes of lightning through the windows and the rain being poured down unrealistically, it provides vibes to older movies like Friday the 13th. But for what it is, the cast is excellent and Identity makes for sure one of the best mystery-thrillers of all time.
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