Identity

A Gripping Start, A Confusing Descent: The first half of this movie is undeniably gripping and engaging. It pulls you in with a compelling story and keeps you hooked with its suspenseful atmosphere. The pacing is excellent, and the characters are intriguing enough to hold your attention.

However, the second half takes a dramatic turn for the worse. In an apparent attempt to deliver unexpected twists and surprises, the writer seems to have derailed the narrative. The plot becomes increasingly convoluted and confusing, leaving the viewer feeling disoriented and ultimately unsatisfied.

While the initial promise of the film is undeniable, the second half unfortunately diminishes its overall impact. I'd recommend waiting for this semi-thriller to arrive on OTT platforms. The first half is definitely worth experiencing, but the second half might leave you feeling disappointed.

Overall: * Strengths: Gripping first half, engaging pacing, intriguing characters.

* Weaknesses: Confusing second half, convoluted plot, underwhelming twists.

* Recommendation: Wait for OTT release. Enjoy the first half, and be prepared for a potential letdown in the second.

IDENTITY brings a unconventional narrative though the plot is rather slender. The screenplay skillfully keeps the suspense alive but fails to maintain engagement for most of its runtime. While some moments do lag with the slow pace narration, some are crafted with sheer brilliance and pulse-pounding excitement. Few plot twists add intrigue and keep the audience guessing but others feel forced and perplexing.

Trisha is an undeniable powerhouse of talent and beauty but her character isn't explored to its full depth, her performance is nuanced, authentic, and compelling. However, her styling and makeup could have been more refined.

Tovino, in the lead role, delivers a pitch-perfect performance, embodying his character with charisma and conviction. Supporting actors like Vinay Rai and Shammi are equally commendable, each bringing distinct energy to their roles, making the ensemble cast stand out.

The cinematography experiments with inventive shot compositions and lighting, yielding a visually dynamic experience in parts. While not consistently striking, the overall visual tone is effective.

The action sequences are choreographed with precision, exuding style and intensity.

The background score deserves applause for setting the right tone, seamlessly elevating the narrative.

Production design complements the story well, adding authenticity to the world-building.

Directors Anas Khan and Akhil Paul deliver a polished film that often feels like a Hollywood venture, thanks to its slick execution and ambitious vision.

Identity, directed by Akhil Paul and Anas Khan, is a crime investigation drama cum action thriller with a very solid first half, followed by an overstuffed yet engaging second half. The film excels in establishing a highly engaging case, although it occasionally resorts to spoon-feeding scientific jargon. In the second half, the tone shifts from investigation to action, introducing new characters and plot points, which might feel slightly distracting. However, the action set pieces, especially the amazing car chase and the well-executed aviation thrill sequence, keep you hooked. While the twists and turns are intriguing, they could have been more impactful, and the emotional elements feel somewhat underwhelming. The climax includes certain commercial elements that seem out of place.

Tovino delivers another very good performance, with his body language adding uniqueness to his character. Trisha performs well, while Vinay Rai starts off good but later devolves into a clichéd character. Aju Varghese and Shammi Thilakan provide good support, and the rest of the cast does a decent job. Technically, the film is impressive. The camerawork and Bejoy's music complement the narrative effectively. The editing, with its use of jump cuts, might feel distracting at times The screenplay is smart and ensures every question is answered with minute details, while also addressing open points later. However, it feels very overstuffed at times. Overall, Identity is a good thriller that could have been even better if it had avoided being overly packed.

OVERALL - 7/10.

I'm starting to question the trustworthiness of IMDb ratings. I decided to watch the movie based on its high rating, and it turned out to be a letdown. The first half had some suspense, the story drifted off course and became utterly boring in the second half. From fake accents to cringe-worthy slow-motion scenes, it felt almost laughable. Random characters popped up without purpose, and the plane scenes were completely unnecessary. At nearly three hours long, the movie was a tedious slog. The story writing and editing were poor, and while the cinematography was decent, it couldn't save the experience. Don't be fooled by the IMDb rating, pretty sure these are bots.

To start with, the movie is not a cheaply crafted entertainment: the team has done efforts to make it something that seems like a suspense thriller: unfortunately, the efforts have not succeeded. Wholistically speaking, it is a slow paced thriller that does not get into the audience to be connected with the characters, or to feel for them. Not even a single character leaves a sentimental impression on the audience while the cinema is over. There is little emotional content that can be felt and related.

The thriller part does not excite audience who have witnessed better movies. There is a whole load of stuff as thrilling packed, but without any effect.

The theme is somewhat new, however, not novel. There are many occasions where improbable surpasses reality, which fails to connect to the audience. There are so many questions unanswered for the audience, such as the identity of the protagonist himself. In a nutshell, it is cheap parody of a suspense thriller.