DVD Collectors Online

Identity, a review by Danae Cassandra

Identity
Year of Release: 2003
Directed By: James Mangold
Starring: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes
Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Overview:
What if there really were no coincidences in life and our destinies were already predetermined?

Ten strangers with secrets are brought together in a savage rainstorm: A limo driver (John Cusack), an '80s TV star (Rebecca DeMornay), a cop (Ray Liotta) who is transporting a killer (Jake Busey), a call girl (Amanda Peet), a pair of newlyweds (Clea DuVall and William Lee Scott) and a family in crisis (John C. McGinley, Leila Kenzle, Bret Loehr), all take shelter at a desolate motel run by a nervous night manager (John Hawkes). Relief in finding shelter is quickly replaced with fear as the ten travelers begin to die, one by one. They soon realize that, if they are to survive, they'll have to uncover the secret that has brought them all together.

My Thoughts:
I found this to be a really entertaining, suspenseful film.  Looking at things from the end, I can see how clues were set up, but watching the film I didn't have it fully figured out until the reveal.  Yes, early on the film does let you know that there is more to this than the obvious (escape from the motel only bringing one character back to the motel) and it gives it this Twilight Zone-esque feel at that point, but I was still wondering exactly what was going on and exactly who was the culprit.  Yes, I did have suspicions towards the correct answer, but I also thought the film did a good job misdirecting the viewer.  The performances are all good, though Cusack was the standout for me.  All in all, very good film, solid recommendation for just about anyone.

Bechdel Test:

Overall: 4/5

(From Off Day Alphabet Marathon on November 9th, 2014)

The Thing, a review by Boomstick98

The Thing (1982)  

Plot: Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.

My O: This is still one of my favorite horror films. I remember this movie really scaring me when I was a kid. Watching it now I can see why. This movie has some nasty and creepy creature effects on the mutations. Nasty as in good. I miss these kind of creatures. It seems everything now has to be CGI. This movie really has that claustrophobic nowhere to go feel to it. I'm sure most everyone has seen it, but if you haven't give it a watch. Now I just need to get the original 1951 film so I can finally see it. Yes, I admit I've never seen the original.

(From Boomstick's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 2nd, 2009)

Fear Itself Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

4. The Sacrifice
Two brothers, Point and Lemon, along with two of their friends, end up stranded at an old fort and slowly discover that the three sisters who reside there are hiding a deadly secret.

Stars:
Jeffrey Pierce
Jesse Plemons
Rachel Miner
Mircea Monroe
Stephen Martines

My Thoughts:
This being episode number 1 when it originally aired I of course seen this one before. I am sure it is of no surprise that I enjoyed this episode a lot. Of course I like most shows about vampires. You never really get that good of a look at the creature in this episode... it is always either out of view or the views are so quick that you don't get a good look at him.

My Rating:

(From Fear Itself Marathon on December 28th, 2009)