30 years later, The Usual Suspects still has one of the biggest twists in movie history (and it gets better every time you watch it)

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30 years later, The Usual Suspects still has one of the biggest twists in movie history (and it gets better every time you watch it)

The usual suspects has stood the test of time by having one of the greatest suspenseful twists in cinema history. The 1995 crime film starred some of the era's best actors, including Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postlethwaite, and Kevin Spacey. The premise of the film was “five guys who meet in a police lineup”, but the story revolves around a robbery carried out from afar by a legendary crime lord, who turns out to be closer than he seemed. The usual suspects contains an elaborate twist that almost eclipses the rest of the film.

In The usual suspects, the shy and lame Roger”Verbal” Kint, played by Kevin Spacey, is telling the story to Agent Dave Kujan. Verbal's story is compelling and detailed as he explains how each of the men offended Turkish crime boss Keyser Söze. Once Verbal finishes, Kujan allows him to leave, but realizes that Verbal made up the story on the spot, using objects in the room as stimuli and that he is the real Söze. The usual suspects the ending is a twist on the film that gets better with each rewatch.

Why The Usual Suspects Keyser Söze Twist Is Still One Of The Best In Cinema History

The Usual Suspects Combine Two Storytelling Techniques to Trick the Viewer


Broken Kobayashi mug in The Usual Suspects

The usual suspectsThe ending took the film from good to great and went down in history as one of the greatest cinematic twists of all time. Its success is partly due to the actors' outstanding performances, but mainly because the clues were present in the room the entire time. The usual suspects adds a final visual touch, showing Verbal becoming a completely different person on screencollecting his gold watch and losing the limp, before disappearing. This perfect twist leaves the viewer and Kujan shocked and trying to remember everything Verbal had said previously.

The usual suspects combines two storytelling deviceswhich makes it extremely unlikely that a first-time viewer will notice the twist. First, it presents the red herring, with Gabriel Byrne's character appearing to have control of the group, which could lead some viewers to suspect that he is actually Keyser Söze. Although Verbal confirms this to be true, The usual suspects then, it reveals its second narrative device, the unreliable narrator, a few minutes from the end, who casts doubt on all previous events. Although regular viewers know Verbal's true identity, the twist gets better with each viewing.

The usual suspects Keyser Söze Twist actually gets better with repeated viewings

Verbal's true identity is revealed within the first few minutes of meeting him (but only to Turkish-speaking viewers)

For those watching it for the first time, the film's plot is independent and The usual suspects has some memorable quotes, even before the incredible twist at the end. That being said, the twist that ends in The usual suspects gets even better with repeated viewing. Throughout the film, there are hints that Verbal is not who he appears to be, including the fact that the unknown gunman who shot Dean had a gold watch and a lighter, as Verbal claimed upon leaving the police station. Another is that when Verbal describes hiding behind a pile of rope, the camera doesn't show him there.

The usual suspects'The ending is a twist that viewers would discover if they spoke another language. Although many of the characters are relatively stoic when being interrogated, Verbal lives up to his name as it seems that stopping him from talking is virtually impossible. Turkish-speaking viewers would likely recognize the link between the nickname “Verbal“, and the name of the terrible crime bossKeyser Söze.” Söze is Turkish, and the name comes from a Turkish word for “the one who talks too much.” These little details make The usual suspects such a compelling film, especially for repeat viewers.

Written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer, The Usual Suspects is a mystery film that features Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey and Benicio del Toro. The plot unfolds during an interrogation in which a con artist talks to investigators about what happened, being one of only two men to survive a massacre at the Port of Los Angeles.

Director

Bryan Singer

Writers

Christopher McQuarrie

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