Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5
Identity DVD (2003)

Our reviewer may have called this serial killer movie "a largely scare-free chiller", but Columbia TriStar has nevertheless put together an effective DVD package for the film.

Slay A Bit Longer

If you like to squeeze the last drop of value out of your DVDs, you'll be pleased to learn that you get to choose between the original theatrical release or the extended cut. The fact the latter runs only a minute longer, though, means you don't really get much extra time to solve the whodunit.

Identity DVD menu

Comprehensively Diced And Sliced

Director James Mangold occupies commentary track one, while writer Michael Cooney is in residence on the second. Both pull the film apart in terms of production and script structure, but it's Cooney who really gets to work on the nitty gritty. After a while it all gets a bit much as he turns his track into an 87-minute higher education lecture. It would be fine if he was dissecting Soviet cinema, but this is too earnest for a slasher flick. You can't fault either Cooney or Mangold for effort, but lighten up guys!

Leftover Gore

The rest of the extra features don't look like much, with deleted scenes, storyboard comparisons, a featurette, and trailers your lot. Their presentation is good, though, and the 'making of' featurette is enlivened by actress Amanda Peet, who gamely insists she tried to get more gratuitous sex into the film. Perhaps Columbia TriStar would like to put her in the director's chair next time so we can see if she really means what she says?

EXTRA FEATURES

  • Audio commentary with director James Mangold
  • Audio commentary with writer Michael Cooney
  • Starz On The Set 'making of' featurette
  • Four deleted scenes
  • Three storyboard comparisons
  • Trailer gallery
  • This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.

    Technical Information

    REGION SOUND MENUS RATIO
    2 Dolby Digital 5.1 Animated with video playback set to music 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
    CHAPTERS SUBTITLES AUDIO TRACKS
    28 English, Italian English, Italian, Russian
    CAPTIONS EXTRAS SUBTITLES CERTIFICATE
    English All of the special features come with subtitles apart from the storyboard comparisons and trailers 15

    End Credits

    Director: James Mangold

    Writer: Michael Cooney

    Stars: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, Rebecca De Mornay

    Genre: Horror, Thriller

    Length: 90 minutes

    Cinema: 13 June 2003

    DVD: 12 January 2004

    Country: USA