Here's the problem: To enjoy the new psychological thriller Identity you really have to stop reading this review, or any other, right now.

You don't listen, do you? Okay -- the film has what you might call an adolescent setup and a grown-up conclusion, which is a nice reversal of the usual thriller formula.

Identity is not the greatest movie ever made and its ideas are not entirely new, but it's a lot of fun to watch.

Yes, we are being as vague as possible.

A strong ensemble cast is probably the key to what makes this one work. John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Jake Busey, Alfred Molina, Rebecca De Mornay and Pruitt Taylor Vince are among the players.

Identity is set in the midst of a dark and stormy night, natch. A car accident sets off a chain of events that eventually brings the characters together at a seedy motel. And then, one by one, people begin to die. Their deaths are gruesome. Their deaths are scary. Body parts. Creaking doors. Things that go bump in the night. Suggestions of the paranormal. Boowaaaahhhhh!

There is obviously a killer in their midst, but who?

And how did screenwriters Michael Cooney and James Mangold get every single thriller cliche (and so many dark laughs) into the story without losing scare value?

It's a neat trick.

Parts of Identity are told more than once but from different points of view and within different time frames. It's like a Rashomon/Memento thing that builds wonderful tension. And the film is paced well and absorbing enough that you will get caught up in the bloody goings-on. Later, you'll feel silly.

If you pay attention, Identity is littered with clues about who is doing what to whom. If you don't pay attention, Identity is still littered with clues, but it's probably a lot funnier.

If you're looking for an interesting mix of ghoulish gore stuff, smart writing and tongue-in-cheek thriller-isms, Identity could be for you. Scary. Funny. Clever.

Like that.

(This film is rated 18A)

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