Identity (15) Stars: John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Clea DuVall, Rebecca De Mornay, Jake Busey, William Lee Scott, John C McGinley, Leila Kenzle, Bret Loehr

A sudden torrential rainstorm and violent winds force ten complete strangers to seek refuge in a motel somewhere in the Nevada desert.

First to arrive are fading movie star Caroline Suzanne (De Mornay) and her limousine driver Ed (Cusack), closely followed by husband George York (McGinley), his badly injured wife Alice (Kenzle) and young son Timmy (Loehr). Soon after, newlyweds Lou and Ginny (Scott, DuVall) seek refuge at the motel with their passenger, a prostitute named Paris (Peet). The party is complete with the arrival of ill-tempered cop Rhodes (Liotta) and his prisoner in custody, Maine (Busey).

The travellers are glad to have found shelter from the weather, but the sense of relief is quickly shattered when one of the party is brutally murdered... and then another. Paranoia sweeps through the survivors as it becomes clear that one of them is a serial killer.

To Kill A King (12) Stars: Dougray Scott, Tim Roth, Rupert Everett, Olivia Williams, James Bolam, Corin Redgrave

This movie recounts the stormy relationship between one-time blood brothers Thomas Fairfax (Scott) and Oliver Cromwell (Roth), the two key figures of the English Civil Wars. Though aristocratic by birth, Fairfax rose to prominence as commander of the Parliamentary armies and later as commander in chief of the New Model Army. After years of bloodshed and increasing civil unrest, Cromwell orchestrated a revolution to change the face of British society, including the downfall and execution of King Charles I (Everett). Torn between friendship and the crown Fairfax resigned as Lord General, playing no further part in Cromwell's quest for glory. Written by Jenny Mayhew, there's tension and suspense from the central power struggle, but the film fails to inject excitement into this history lesson.

Published: 08/01/04