Identity

Identity opens with a nod to Quentin Tarantino’s style in Pulp Fiction, with each of the main characters’ situations played out in a criss-cross fashion. But this soon all fades away into a thrilling whodunit horror murder mystery.

During a storm, a family of three is stopped by a burst tyre caused by a stray stiletto which blew out of the luggage of a hooker, Paris (Peet), on her way to Florida to start a new life.  Whilst the father George (John C McGinley) tries to change it, his wife Alice (Leila Kenzle) plays with their son Timmy (Bret Loehr) and is consequently hit by a limousine driven by former cop Ed (Cusack), carrying Prima Donna movie star Caroline (Rebecca DeMornay). Much to Caroline’s disgust, Ed insists on dropping her off and seeking help for Alice, but with the surrounding area completely flooded, there’s no way out.  Having stranded his car, he finds newlywed couple Ginny (Clea DuVall) and Lou (William Lee Scott), who give him a ride. Also affected by the flood is cop Rhodes (Liotta), who is transfering prisoner Maine (Jake Busey)...

And so it comes to pass that on one dark and stormy night in Nevada, a group of strangers find themselves seeking refuge at a run-down motel, staffed by the weird manager Larry (Hawkes). No sooner has everyone has been allocated a room, and they try to settle in for the night, than one-by-one, the guests die...

Cusack and Liotta do well to shine from a quality ensemble cast. Everybody gives their character a story that is not only believable, but also enough to make you suspect that they carried out the murders. Add to this the claustrophobic space of a creepy motel surrounded by storm and flood, and a manager creepier than Norman Bates from Psycho, and you know you’re going to be in for a thrilling journey!