Identity 2003
This is a twist on Clue or any other whodunnit where the guests disappear one by one. It’s fairly enjoyable and they throw so many different possibilities in there that it keeps you guessing. A related, then unrelated, then related again side story concerns the last ditch insanity plea of a mass murderer who is scheduled to be executed the following day.
The acting is pretty good, but most of the energy of the movie is used in setting up the story and then throwing one curve ball after the other. I think if you watch this movie with low expectations, knowing that the ride will be bumpy, that you could enjoy watching all of this unfold. The ending (the last one) is a little bit of a let down after some of the other stuff that has gone on.
The DVD had the mandatory “making of” feature which was pretty good and points out one of the strongpoints of the movie, namely how everything is shot. There’s almost a Coen Brothers feel to it. This is a true dark and stormy night and in that way the movie is a tribute to the whole genre, except for the ending (the first one) which seems kind of a cop out.
Not great cinema, but still enjoyable. I’ll give it a B.