Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13867 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-01-12
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
With an ace up its sleeve, Identity does for schizophrenia what The Silence of the Lambs did for fava beans and a nice Chianti. On the proverbial dark and stormy night, this anxiety-laced thriller offers a tasty blend of And Then There Were None and Psycho, with a dash of Sybil for extra spice and psychosis. Things go from bad to worse when 10 unrelated travellers converge at an isolated motel and proceed to die, one by one, with no apparent connection...until they discover the common detail that's drawn them into this nightmare of relentless trauma.

Even while its take on abnormal psychology fails to impress, Michael Cooney's screenplay offers meaty material for a superior ensemble cast including John Cusack and Rebecca DeMornay (who wins the Janet Leigh prize in a bitchy comeback role). Director James Mangold pivots the action around one character (played by his Heavy star, Pruitt Taylor Vince, in eye-twitching cuckoo mode) and half the fun of Identity comes from deciphering who's who, what's what and who'll be the next to die. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Description
Identity is a daring new thriller from director James Mangold, (the writer/director of Girl, Interrupted, Cop Land and Heavy) and producer Cathy Konrad (Scream 1, 2 & 3, Cop Land, Girl, Interrupted), featuring an all-star ensemble cast including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Jake Busey, Clea DuVall and Rebecca De Mornay. Caught in a savage rainstorm, ten travellers are forced to seek refuge at a strange desert motel. They soon realize they’ve found anything but shelter. There is a killer among them and, one by one, they are murdered. As the storm rages on and the dead begin to outnumber the living, one thing becomes clear: Each of them was drawn to the motel, not by accident or circumstance, but by forces beyond imagination, forces that promise anyone who survives a mind-bending and terrifying destiny.

Special Features

• Alternate ending
  
• Director's commentary
  
• Writer's commentary
  
• 5 deleted scenes (4 with optional commentary)
  
• Cast & crew filmographies
  
• Making of STARZ - on the set
  
• 3 Storyboard comparisons
  
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Technical Information:

• Language: English, Russian, Italian
  
• Audio: DolbyDigital 5.1 Surround
  
• Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovenian, Swedish, Turkish
  
• Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic - 1:2.40
  
• Disc Format: DVD9
  
• Running Time: 86 minutes

Customer Reviews

When I was going up the stairs, I met a man who wasn't there
Sick and tired of those ordinary thrillers that are all fluff and very little substance? 'Identity' may be the answer that you're looking for, as it is a clever and dark thriller with a solid story, a terrific cast and a great look and feel to it all. The film revolves around ten strangers who end up at a little motel due to a horrible storm. All of them have been brought there by chance... or, is it a little more complicated than that? They think they're out of the woods until people start getting butchered left and right, in a countdown fashion. What appears to be nothing more than a murderer on the loose having his or her fun ends up being something a lot more sinister and threatening. Have these ten individuals been picked at random, or have their fates been sealed from the very beginning?

When I started watching this, I thought to myself, 'Oh boy, I bet you I know exactly how this is going to end.' I was wrong. The film takes a lot of clever and unexpected twists that really goes to show you how great a thriller can really be if the right brains are behind it all. It has some great suspense and frightening moments, an intriguing plot that likes to play around with your mind, and it delivers a very confident presentation. You'll recognize a good majority of the cast, as some of them include John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet and Rebecca DeMornay. All are great, especially Cusack who proves that he can be a successful lead role in a top-notch thriller.

The DVD has some cool goodies to offer. You can watch it in widescreen or fullscreen, depending on which is your preference. You also have the choice to watch the theatrical cut, or the extended version (not to be mistaken for a 'director's cut'). I must be honest and admit that the extended version is really not worth it. The added scene does nothing to enhance the movie and the so-called 'alternate ending' isn't alternate at all, as it is merely extended by only a few seconds. It was interesting to watch, but again it really doesn't do anything special for the film. Stick with the theatrical version, then watch the extended version if you're still curious. Trust me, the theatrical version is the way to go. Other bonuses included on the DVD are deleted scenes, commentary, storyboard comparisons, theatrical trailer, filmographies and a behind the scenes featurette. The film looks and sounds great.

'Identity' is definitely something that should be checked out by those who are tired by the usual flops that dare to call themselves 'thrillers.' This is a successful and smart thriller that offers chills along with an impressive script and cast. Just be sure to give it a chance. You may think you have it all figured out when it starts, but trust me when I tell you that this movie will play around with your brain until the ending credits. A more than well-done thriller that doesn't disappoint and is worth re-watching again and again. -Michael Crane

An intersting twist on the horror/thriller genre.
Having randomly stumbled across this DVD recently I had vague recollections about the quality of the film. I can't remember reading much about how amazing it was, but at the same time I couldn't remember too many negative comments. I thought I would give it a go and I am so glad I did.

This film is very underrated, and builds up to a surprising (if somewhat strange) twist at the end. Viewed a second time it is interesting to see just how many hints there were as to what is happening, and you cant believe you didn't see it coming the first time round. All the characters are played extremely well by all involved. The characters are interesting, as opposed to the standard cardboard cut out characters we usually get in this type of horror/thriller. There are numerous plot twists throughout to keep you guessing and also flashbacks which help to establish why the characters all arrived at the motel on the same night.

The film also allows the audience to become totally engrossed in what is happening. The story unravels slowly, and lets you put the pieces together rather than assuming you are a moron and simply relying on the characters exposition to tell the story.

Overall this is a superb horror/thriller. As with a lot of this type of film your overall enjoyment will be judged on the twist at the end. I thought it was great as it was at least something which has not been done hundreds of times before.

Red Herrings and Shower Curtains
This is a slasher flick with a star studded cast. From the beginning it attempts to outsmart the viewer, in a whodunnit that would send Dame Agatha to her smelling salts bottle, and Sybil into multiple fits of laughter.

From Rebecca De Mornay (Caroline) doing an updated Psycho scene, shower curtain and all, to the borrowed thrills of Halloween and Friday the 13th, this dark movie keeps you guessing until each twist is revealed, but the BIG TWIST is a no-brainer even if you're not a fan of the genre.

John Cusack (Ed) takes some getting used to in this type of role, but he makes the stretch nicely. Amanda Peet (Paris) also displays her versatility, even though her character pushes the believability meter to the limit. John Hawkes (Larry) works his inner Anthony Perkins, but ends up more like Tommy Lee, except he doesn't care much for hookers.

Type-cast actors are Ray Liotta (Rhodes) and Jake Busey (Maine), who's probably patented that angry toothy snarl of his. Clea DuVall (Ginny) and William Lee Scott (Lou) play dysfunction to the hilt.

There are certain parts of the plot that are imaginative and clever, but these are overshadowed by an intentionally confusing story line. This is not your simple slasher, but an greatly embellished slasher, leading the average viewer like me to a "Huh?" conclusion, not from the untwisty twist but from the events leading up to it.

Amanda Richards