I love Cusack's acting, and without his intensity, the movie
would not be half as good as it is. Playing a former cop
turned limo driver, Cusack brings a sincerity to the role that
makes you discount him as the killer. I do, however, think
they could have gotten away with a little less
eyeliner...
Also at the motel are Ginny and Lou (Clea DuVall, William Lee
Scott), a newlywed couple; the York family - stepdad George
(John C. McGinley), young son Timmy (Bret Loehr) and mom (Leila
Kenzle), who has been seriously hurt in a car accident; a cop
(Ray Liotta) and his prisoner (Jake Busey); and Paris (Amanda
Peet), a prostitute trying to make her way back home to Florida.
Liotta is immediately on the radar screen of possible
killers, as he just looks evil. Even when trying to be
heroic or helpful, his eyes are cold and unnerving. The
rest of the cast seems a little wooden and the girls seem to be
there just to scream and cry.
The movie is reminiscent of Psycho, with the uneasy
atmosphere of the motel and the unsuspecting guests who are set
up for slaughter.
I'm not going to give away the "twist" that all
movie reviewers are touting, but I will say that I was not that
impressed or surprised by it and found it a little
disappointing. I should note that the two people I saw
this film with thought just the opposite and liked the movie
much more than I did.
I think there could have been more plot development before
the "twist" is let out of the bag. And like I
said above, once the "twist" is discovered, I cared
less about what was going to happen to the strangers.
This movie tries a little too hard to be different and I
would have found it an even better, albeit standard Hollywood
thriller, without the twist. But what can I say, I like
traditional thrillers.
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