Review: Identity - Unclear and Stretched

 

Movie: Identity
Rating:2.5/5

Cast: Tovino Thomas, Trisha Krishnan, Vinay Rai, Shammi Thilakan, Aju Vargheese, Arjun Radhakrishnan, Vishak Nair, Archana Kavi, Mandira Bedi

Director: Anas Khan and Akhila Paul

Produced By: Roy C.J., Kochumon, and Raju Malliath

Streaming on: ZEE5

Story:

A sketch artist collaborates with a witness to identify the killer who has police protection. Soon enough, the investigation develops into a complex situation, creating challenges for all parties concerned. 

Performances:

Although Tovino Thomas and Vinay Rai excelled in their roles, Trisha Krishnan could not shine because of the weak portrayal of her character. Shammi Thilakan, Aju Vargheese, and Arjun Radhakrishnan performed well, whereas Vishak Nair, Archana Kavi, and Mandira Bedi were just okay.

What worked for the film:

The opening scenes of the film create a powerful impact. The way the story presents the characters and ties them to the murder is well executed. Most of the time, the background score enhances the mood and fits perfectly with the content. The concept of adding some twists to the hero's backstory was appealing.

What did not work for the film:

At the halfway mark, we have a good understanding of the main characters, with not much left to reveal. This marks the moment when the writer embarks on the challenging work of developing complex storylines to uncover the villain's actual goals and the hero's authentic self, which drags the narrative. The film includes several convenient developments lacking explanations, like a significant character being shot yet appearing perfectly fine in the next scene, and a chartered flight on the verge of crashing that unexpectedly lands safely. Too many characters get introduced but they do not have any proper establishment or impact in the proceedings.

Identity Review and Verdict:

Identity opens with a fascinating premise, but as it evolves, it drags into needless plot twists and a complicated narrative filled with too many characters. It had the potential to be an exciting thriller, but ultimately falls flat. Tovino Thomas and Vinay Rai deliver convincing performances.