The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Usual Suspects is a lean, twist-driven crime thriller built around an unreliable narrator and a mystery that tightens like a noose. It opens with a spectacular waterfront explosion that leaves 27 dead and only two survivors. One of them, the stammering con-man Roger “Verbal” Kint, is interrogated by a federal agent and begins to spin a story that takes the viewer back six weeks: five small-time criminals brought together in a police lineup who, grudgingly, team up for one last job. What starts as a slick revenge/hijack caper soon becomes something far darker when the name Keyser Söze — an almost-mythical crime lord — enters the picture. Watching the film is an exercise in piecing together contradictions: the plot unfolds in nonlinear flashbacks, details are deliberately ambiguous, and characters pivot between loyalty and self-preservation. The mood mixes neo-noir atmosphere, sardonic dialogue, and growing paranoia; performances (especially Kevin Spacey as Verbal) and Bryan Singer’s tight direction keep the tension taut. The screenplay rewards close attention and rewatches, because the way information is framed — and later reframed — is essential to the payoff. Expect a smart, slow-burning mystery that builds to a jaw-dropping final revelation which forces you to reassess everything you’ve seen. It’s gripping, often darkly ironic, and designed to leave you guessing (and talking about it) long after the credits roll.

Actors: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri

Director: Bryan Singer

Runtime: 106 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery

8.0 /10 76 /100 8.5 /10 8.0 /10