Far from Maine

Identity is a 2003 American psychological slasher film directed by James Mangold, written by Michael Cooney, and featuring an ensemble cast including John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, William Lee Scott, Rebecca De Mornay, Jake Busey, John C. McGinley, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. The film follows ten strangers stranded at an isolated motel in the Nevada desert during a rainstorm, who are mysteriously murdered one by one by an unknown assailant. Several events that take place in the hours before the characters' arrival are introduced at key moments in the film using reverse chronology structure and, in a parallel story, a serial killer awaits a verdict at a crucial trial that will determine whether he will be executed for his crimes. Cooney's screenplay for Identity was inspired by Agatha Christie's 1939 whodunit And Then There Were None. Principal photography took place largely on studio sets in Culver City, California in 2002, with location photography occurring in Palmdale. Identity was released by Sony Pictures Releasing on April 25, 2003. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $90.3 million against a $28 million budget.