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> Identity (2003) <

The DVD cover proudly proclaims “A genuinely CUNNING psychological THRILLER with a TWIST guaranteed to SHOCK”. How very true.

From beginning to end, this movie grips your attention like a bulldog grips a bone. More than simply a thriller, it plays with reality itself. Alfred Molina plays Dr. Malick, a psychologist, working to reform a murderer and save him from the death penalty. Meanwhile, a group of 10 people become trapped at a motel in Nevada, unable to leave because of torrential desert rains. One by one they are murdered, with a numbered room key by their corpses. Slowly the number of people remaining dwindles, and then things start to get really strange… The bodies are disappearing without a trace. The twist near the end is completely surprising, but looking back, you can see all the hints you missed in the duration of the movie. And just when you think you’ve got it all worked out, the story makes a final turn that is guaranteed to be unforeseen.

Although I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the (relatively) small smattering of swearing and scenes of people going hysterical, the movie didn’t dwell too much on the dead bodies or acts of killing, tastefully sidestepping being overly gruesome whilst maintaining the tension. And my, there was a lot of tension! For the entire duration, this is a nail-biter (my nails are now a lot shorter). I’ll leave you with the chilling poem murmured at the start, plot revelation point and end of the movie.

I was going up the stairs
I met a man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
I wish I wish he’d go away

For more information, please see the Internet Movie Database entry on Identity.

> Fanart <
Identity fanart by me. Submissions are welcome.