Deceiver (film)

Deceiver (UK title: Liar) is a 1997 American mystery film directed by Jonas Pate and Josh Pate, and starring Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Michael Rooker, Rosanna Arquette, Ellen Burstyn and Renée Zellweger. It won Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay at the 1997 Stockholm Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Cognac Police Film Festival.

Plot
Textile company heir James Wayland is accused of murdering a prostitute, Elizabeth Loftus whose body was found cut in half in two suitcases. The murder is investigated by tough detective Kennesaw and his less experienced partner Braxton.

Wayland is a heavy drinker, despite suffering from epilepsy, and a compulsive liar, prone to apparent memory lapses and committing select acts of violence. He is rich enough to access necessary information, however, and he soon learns his two police interrogators' own dark secrets - Kennesaw had an affair with Elizabeth to get back at his own wife for cheating on him, while Braxton has gambling debts with a bookie known as "Mook", who is demanding $20,000 that Braxton owes her.

Cast

 * Tim Roth as James Walter Wayland
 * Chris Penn as Detective Phillip Braxton
 * Ellen Burstyn as "Mook"
 * Renée Zellweger as Elizabeth
 * Michael Rooker as Detective Edward Kennesaw
 * Rosanna Arquette as Mrs. Kennesaw
 * Michael Parks as Dr. Banyard
 * Mark Damon as Wayland's father

Reception
The film received a mixed reaction from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives Deceiver a rating of 42% from 31 reviews. The film was described as follows: "twisty bit of trickery, Deceiver is gripping without ever being really good".