neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Identity
	James Mangold John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Rebecca DeMornay, Leila Kenzle, Bret Loehr 2003		The initial impression gleaned from the "Identity" trailer is that the film is a slash-o-rama horror flick with a better-than-average cast — John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, Rebecca DeMornay, Jake Busey, and so on. But the truth is much more interesting. "Identity" is a thoughtful, clever, edgy psychological thriller that happens to have the structure, shocks and terrors of your usual serial-killer-on-the-loose movie. A handful of strangers are trapped at an out-of-the-way motel during an all-night storm. They include a limo driver and an actress he's taking to Los Angeles; a husband, wife and young son; a hooker on the run; a just-married 20-something couple; a prisoner being moved from lock-up and the tough guy at the wheel of the transport. Soon after they all reach the motel, their lives are at risk. Elsewhere, a psychologist is waiting to offer testimony that could give a convicted murderer a last-minute stay of execution. The link between the two situations is the crux of "Identity." Writer/director James Mangold ("Girl, Interrupted") toys with your assumptions and wrings the max from the premise.