Identity

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Identity

R

2003

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

168 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a vicious storm breaks out in the Nevada desert, 10 people seek refuge in an isolated motel. At the same time, a serial killer (Pruitt Taylor Vince) under the care of psychiatrist Doctor Mallick (Alfred Molina) -- who has just found the killer's revealing journal -- awaits execution for murdering a group of motel guests. When the storm-stranded travelers realize they are being killed off one by one, limo driver Ed Dakota (John Cusack) bids to stay alive and reveal the murderer's identity.

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Critics Consensus

Identity is a film that will divide audiences -- the twists of its plot will either impress or exasperate you.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

This fanciful murder mystery builds up to a whopping twist that just about holds together when you replay what came before.

Feb 12, 2024

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Scary beyond belief serial killer thriller.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

In fact, when the third act trickery comes on strong, it's Cusack who's given the responsibility of selling it to the audience. That he does this isn't really a surprise, that he makes it so profoundly affecting is.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Unexpected, surprising, intelligent, involved and evolving. Identity gives a 21st Century identity to the fright-flick.

Nov 9, 2019

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Steve Newton

Georgia Straight

My eyeballs were doing some serious rolling of their own at the general ineptitude of this failed mating of Friday the 13th and Ten Little Indians.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 9, 2014

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A good cast is enacting this fancy rubbish; what drew them to the material besides its self-conscious cleverness is beyond me.

Rated: D

Sep 24, 2007

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RJ H

It's a pretty good movie, but the ending conclusion is super stupid, hence the four stars.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

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David C

A strong cast and a clever twisting script deliver a better than average whodunnit with an eerie slasher element. Cusack shines as usual but the supporting cast deliver excellent performances that keep you cheering, groaning and wondering who's next. Lastly a shout out to the storm enclosed motel with it's darkness, torrential rain and maze like but open environment that provided many twist and turns to keep the viewer on edge.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

Full Review

Julie D

An ingenious thriller molded from Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". The film's incredibly entertaining even with the measurably predictable twist.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/16/25

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Feather M

One of those that says at the end "surprise! I outsmarted you" when really it was just being obtuse. Its not a mystery, its a Lucy pulling the football at the pivot. You're left with 3 choices at the end, it is not a spoiler to say its not who you think it is, there can't be a spoiler when the clues dont hold logic but rather save their energy for gloating at anyone who didnt have the script. I mourn the continued absence of the true who dunnit.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/10/25

Full Review

Ranger T

A film that could have been immortal but for the canned, by-the-numbers, idiotic, last two minutes. When will Hollywood learn that "O. Henry" surprise endings are not a surprise when they've been done in the last 500 horror films. Could see it coming a mile away and how did it grate! Cut out the last two minutes and this is a brilliant and unique film ... or could have been.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/18/25

Full Review

Leaburn O

The twist towards the end is very shutter islandy but was necessary to make sense of the weirdness. Was a reasonable psychological thriller. Watched on Amazon Prime.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

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James Mangold

Director

John Cusack

Ed

Ray Liotta

Rhodes

Amanda Peet

Paris

John Hawkes

Larry

Alfred Molina

Dr. Malick

Identity: Official Clip - Warring Personalities

2:16

Identity: Official Clip - Violent Newlyweds

3:02

Identity: Official Clip - Hit by a Car

2:27

Identity: Official Clip - The Little Killer

2:55

Identity: Official Clip - The Escaped Convict

2:27

Identity: Official Clip - Disappearing Bodies

3:03

Identity: Official Clip - Secret Killers

2:41

Identity: Official Clip - The Head in the Dryer

2:37

Identity: Official Clip - All the Same Birthdays

2:01

Identity: Official Clip - Who Am I Speaking To?

3:50

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Synopsis

When a vicious storm breaks out in the Nevada desert, 10 people seek refuge in an isolated motel. At the same time, a serial killer (Pruitt Taylor Vince) under the care of psychiatrist Doctor Mallick (Alfred Molina) -- who has just found the killer's revealing journal -- awaits execution for murdering a group of motel guests. When the storm-stranded travelers realize they are being killed off one by one, limo driver Ed Dakota (John Cusack) bids to stay alive and reveal the murderer's identity.

Director: James Mangold
Producer: Cathy Konrad
Screenwriter: James Mangold, Michael Cooney, Michael Cooney
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.5M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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