The Usual Suspects

Main Plot

The Usual Suspects follows a group of criminals who are brought together for a heist on a cargo ship. After a deadly encounter with law enforcement, the surviving members are interrogated by the police, leading to a complex narrative filled with twists and turns. The story is primarily told through the perspective of one of the survivors, who recounts the events leading up to the heist and the mysterious figure known as Keyser Söze, a legendary criminal mastermind. As the investigation unfolds, the line between truth and deception blurs, revealing hidden agendas and unexpected alliances among the suspects. The film builds tension as the characters' motivations and pasts are explored, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation that challenges everything the audience thought they knew about the events that transpired.

Characters

• Kevin Spacey plays Roger "Verbal" Kint, a small-time con artist who reveals the story of a criminal mastermind, Keyser Söze, during a police interrogation.
• Gabriel Byrne plays Dean Keaton, a former corrupt cop turned criminal, central to the heist plot and the unraveling mystery orchestrated by the enigmatic Keyser Söze.
• Chazz Palminteri plays Dave Kujan, a determined U.S. Customs agent who interrogates Verbal Kint to uncover the identity of the elusive criminal mastermind, Keyser Söze.

Ending Explained

In the ending of The Usual Suspects, the narrative reaches a climax as the true identity of Keyser Söze is revealed. Throughout the film, a group of criminals is manipulated into carrying out a heist by a mysterious figure. The story is told through the perspective of Roger "Verbal" Kint, who recounts the events to a police officer. As the investigation unfolds, Verbal's unreliable storytelling raises suspicions. In the final moments, it is revealed that Verbal is, in fact, Keyser Söze himself. After telling his convoluted tale, he walks out of the police station, shedding his limp and demeanor, indicating that he has successfully deceived the authorities. The police officer, realizing he has been played, scrambles to connect the dots, but it’s too late. The film concludes with a sense of irony and shock, as the audience understands that the real mastermind has been right in front of them all along. This ending resolves the main conflict by exposing the manipulative nature of Söze and the futility of the police investigation. It connects to the overall narrative by highlighting themes of deception, identity, and the blurred lines between truth and lies, leaving viewers questioning the reliability of perception.