The Usual Suspects came out in 1995 and blew minds with its twist ending. The movie follows five criminals lined up by police as usual suspects in a big crime. One survivor, a chatty guy named Verbal Kint played by Kevin Spacey, tells the story during questioning by cops like Dave Kujan.[1][2]
Verbal spins a wild tale about a mysterious crime boss called Keyser Soze. This guy is like a ghost, Turkish legend who kills his own family to fight enemies and controls everything from shadows. Verbal says Soze set up the whole job: a boat loaded with cocaine worth 91 million dollars. The crew goes to steal it but finds nothing but dead bodies. Only Verbal and a burned Hungarian survive.[2][5]
As Verbal talks, we see flashbacks of the heist gone wrong on the pier. 27 men die in a shootout. Dean Keaton, a crooked ex-cop played by Gabriel Byrne, seems like the main guy but gets shot. The story builds Soze as the puppet master behind every step, from the lineup to the lawyer who tricks them onto the boat.[2][1]
Then the ending hits. Kujan pieces it together after Verbal leaves. He knocks over a coffee mug named Kobayashi, like the lawyer in the story. The bulletin board behind him has names like Redfoot and details Verbal used. Kint made it all up from junk in the room.[1][2] As Verbal walks out, his limp vanishes. He straightens up, lights a cigarette, hops in a Jaguar. He’s Keyser Soze.[1][4]
Watch the scene close: Kujan’s face drops as he realizes. The cops chased a myth. Soze played everyone, walked free.[1][2] But some details are real. The boat burned, Keaton died, the Hungarian lived with burns. Verbal twisted the rest to hide his role.[2]
Why does it work? The twist builds slow. We spot lies visually: the mug, board, Verbal’s walk. No cheap jump. Sound tricks too, like repeated noises linking start and end.[1][4] Soze’s plan was genius. He wiped out rivals, kept his dope, posed as weak Verbal with a fake limp and stutter. Got arrested on purpose, spun the yarn, vanished.[5]
Fans debate: Is Soze real or all con? The movie leaves it open. Maybe Verbal amped up the myth to seem harmless. Either way, that reveal changed thrillers forever.[2][3]
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7SRgDA98w4
https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/key-scene-the-usual-suspects-454015/
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/movie-twists-best-films-all-time-b2887657.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iAglMy6QCg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFx-Iw_AB1M
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/news/
