The Usual Suspects Review: A Twist That Became Legend
8.5/10 — The Usual Suspects (1995)
Pros
- Terrific ensemble
- Sharp, twisty plotting
- Brilliantly staged reveal
Cons
- Reliant on its twist
- Plot holes on rewatch
A survivor of a deadly shipboard massacre, the small-time crook Verbal Kint, tells an interrogator how five criminals were drawn into a job for the mysterious Keyser Söze. It earned Kevin Spacey an Oscar.
What works
The ensemble, including Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro and Stephen Baldwin, is superb, and the story is a satisfying puzzle. Spacey’s performance is slippery, and the final reveal is staged perfectly.
Where it falters
The twist is well known and can’t surprise you twice, and the plot doesn’t hold together under close scrutiny.
Verdict
A crackling crime tale that remains great fun even when you know how it ends.
