more than a murder mystery . more than a psychological thriller . more than a horror movie . with most viewer be either mislead by the similarity to agatha christie ten little indian and or just pompously broadcast their knowledge that this movie be inspire by such and they seem to have miss the point that this be not a murder mystery per se and but rather and a finely craft journey through the mind of a multiple personality during the course of purge his violent persona . i believe that premise ( and it attendant twist ) be a teensy bit much for audience to comprehend . even take into account the fact that film maker construct film of this ilk to the whim of test audience and focus group and ( read a low common denominator and i. e. swineherders ) and this particular case still elicit misunderstanding and even with the kindergarten paint by number explanation in the final minute . it seem to be a patrick duffy shower scene cop out and but director james mangold and writer michael cooney and be use sleight of hand to misdirect viewer through most of the film . i envision those loose lipped test audience ( comprise of societal caste who have nothing well to do with their tuesday afternoon ) believe that the movie be take place in real time and only to be chagrin when it be reveal that most of the action be occur in a psychopath disturb mind . instead of appreciate why this filmic device be use and they immediately wish they would spend their tuesday afternoon down that haagen daaz tub and watching mcmillan and wife explain every last g rat detail to them like they be the last retard on earth . ten guest be flood strand at a motel represent among them and rebecca demornay and almost unrecognizable with her ample boob job and burgundy hair and play a character whom she be assume the mantle of with each pass botox ed day a woman who use to be that actress while amanda peet and whose stage direction be keep simple back that booty up some more and honey . while john c. mcginley play against type a an uber dweeb and jake busey play exactly his type uber psycho while ray liotta always darkly mysterious one by one and these refugee guest start die all agatha christie like . intercut with this storyline be a somber eleventh hour appeal by doctor and lawyer to an ill temper judge to stay an execution . we be intrigue a to how these two disparate tale be relate and but we do sense a connection in due course and because the dry and somber doctor be talk about a killer and in that wet parallel motel story therere killins galore . by the end of the second act ( after the film most neck hair raise moment and when all the corps at the motel be find to be miss ) and it be reveal that the motel scene have be take place within a psychopath mind and and that each motel character be merely one of the multiple personality of the psychopath . that twist no . 1 that all this rain drench pile in and out of room like the spanish inquisition with shocked puss be merely a psychopath imagination . for a few moment we be lead to believe the shyamalan trap have be spring but there a trump card through grand misdirection on the film maker part and the doctor believe they successfully purge the psychopath mind of his killer persona and but it be reveal in the last few second of film that the psychopath be too adroit in conceal his real killer persona in the form of the least likely hotel guest . that be the true twist to the movie represent discover that the doctor cure do not go deep enough while discover that the psychopath be able to disguise his persona a a benign presence in full view of both the viewer and doctor . the movie could have opt to wrap neatly with the first twist and or could have take any number of juvenile turn and blame spirit from an indian burial ground and or any of the less character ( who all sport damaging secret ) and but the writer lead u on a merry and more interesting goose chase . thus and this deponent sayeth represent bravo to the road less traveled . on the other hand and my feminine personality think the movie brutalized woman too overtly and my killer psychopath personality be go to make the film maker pay for give away my secret . ( movie maniac and visit represent www . poffysmoviemania . com ) .