MovieChat Forums > Deceiver (1998) Discussion > HOLD ON (spoilers)

HOLD ON (spoilers)

posted 13 years ago by UndergroundG
3 replies | jump to latest

If what everyone is saying is true that he did it and used the fake story and had fake illness and faked his death. Then what was the point of the movie? He didnt have to fake anything if he had the tape. The tape would look like more evidence then they had which was his number and he wouldn't have been in that situation in the first place.

So his options were:
A) Mail the tape in and stick to his story
or
B) Repeated mess with the guys, fake an illness, a friendship with a hooker and his own death. Just so theres something to be a movie about.

[–] lor_ 13 years ago

I agree with undergroundG -this is a typical example of a puzzl efilm that is fun to watch unfold, but falls apart afterwards upon reflection -during the "after-film" bull session sorting out plot threads. In the final reel the twists including Roth coming back to life (as it were) are completely unconvincing, though on the way there one can enjoy the role reversals in the interrogation room related to the lie detector test, who's giving it and who's taking it.

With Roth more recently starring on TV in "Lie to Me", the film takes on an interesting historical note, but it struck me as a complete failure. Ironically, the day after I watched it via netflix, I saw a well-directed episode of the new "Prime Suspect" show helmed by Jonas Pate -merely proving to me at least this half of the brother act has talent directing someone else's better-thought-out script.

[–] janoble2001 11 years ago

The story led to the ending that should have been shot.

Those extra twists were totally not needed. What would have been wrong with the Michael Rooker character being exposed as the killer. That's the twist!! That's all you need. Rooker says to Penn "You owe me man let me blow this guy away." Penn draws on Rooker. Tim Roth cowers. Rooker begins to pull the trigger. BANG a gun shot. Rooker down...dead. Penn the dumbest one of the bunch retains the dignity of a cop and saves a innocent life. Rooker the maniac is dead (and he should have been the one that cut up the girl).

Last scene Roth at her gravesite with a tear and we know as audience members know he might be changing his life for the better, and moving on. He is the hero. Instead he is portrayed as some genius Hannibal Lecter type still out there. Of course pennyless now and nowhere to live. There is always a reason these type of movies are never heard of till you see them on cable. They are literally killed off and forgotten by their preposterous endings.

[–] woodstock1960 10 years ago

If the film was like that, there would be no room for the imagination.

"Ain't life grand?"