Product Details

• Actors: Chris Penn, Ellen Burstyn, Tim Roth, Renée Zellweger, Michael Rooker
• Directors: Josh Pate, Jonas Pate
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English, Spanish
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Mgm Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: August 4, 1998
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630501731X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,167 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Interrogations, mind games, and murder: Jonas and Josh Pate’s post-modern thriller may be the bastard child of Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects, but this devious offspring charts its own unpredictable course. Tim Roth dominates the film as the epileptic, absinthe-drinking, genius murder suspect who plays the lie detector like a violin and turns the tables on the cops (dim bulb Chris Penn and simmering veteran Michael Rooker) by stirring up their secrets, and they’ve got some doozies. The twisty little mystery is too clever for its own good, and the Pates neglect to stitch together the loose threads (like what exactly Ellen Burstyn’s raspy bookie is doing in all this), but they have a great eye and style to spare. The chilly stare and cool disposition of Roth’s borderline psychotic makes this battle of wits a game well worth watching. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best psycho-thriller since the Usual Suspects, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

A supurb roster of actors, headed by Tim Roth, bring to life this horrifying glimpse into the human mind and the psychoses of two individuals as the story behind a murder is uncovered. In the grand tradition of the Usual Suspects, the characters in Deceiver change dramatically from the intriguing beginning to the exciting end. Highly recommended for any lovers of mystery and psychological thrillers!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE WRATH OF ROTH, December 6, 2004

By	Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Deceiver (DVD)

Tim Roth gives a mesmerizing and commanding performance in this exceptional thriller. Roth plays the suspect in a brutal murder of a prostitute. He is brought in for lie detector test by detectives Chris Penn and Michael Rooker. Roth proves to be an exceptionally good liar, and a cat and mouse game ensues. Seems like our policemen have their own secrets, too. Penn is in debt to a bookie (played by a malicious Ellen Burstyn) for $20,000. Rooker's wife (Rosanna Arquette) is having an affair with her obstetrician. Somehow the extremely rich Roth knows all of this and uses it.
Renee Zelweger portrays the murder victim, and although she's not used a whole lot, she has some compelling scenes and evidence of her talent is blossoming.
Directors and Jonah and Joshua Pate have some effective camera angles; only the movie's ambiguous ending leaves one a little disappointed. But Roth's performance is great, and you should enjoy the tension. Rooker and Penn are also outstanding; Rooker is one of our most underappreciated actors.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a stylish muddle, August 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Deceiver (DVD)

I really enjoyed this movie for its style and for some of the more compelling scenes. The murder is not solved and many interpretations of the "evidence" can be discussed to support the guilt or innocence of the two main suspects implicated in Elizabeth's death. It's a fun brain twister, and Tim Roth excels at playing the upper class jerk. There are a couple of memorable scenes but overall, this movie walks the line on being an involving exploration of the main characters. Almost great, but not quite.