There's a massive lie that structures this whole movie—we wouldn't have The Usual Suspects if it wasn't for one big twist, based on deceit.
We realize from the beginning that Verbal might not be a reliable narrator and that he might be covering for Keaton or leaving things out of the story. But, after he finishes his story, and Kujan has his unpleasant revelation at the bulletin board, we realize just how much an unreliable narrator can mess with a story or alter our perceptions.
Verbal doesn't just deceive Kujan—he deceives the audience…which is what makes The Usual Suspects so much fun.
Questions about Lies and Deceit
- Why does Kujan fail to see through Verbal's lies?
- What does Verbal do to make his deceitful words more convincing?
- How much of Verbal's story do you think was really true and how much do you think was false? Be specific.
- What hurts Kujan more—his skepticism of Söze or his willingness to believe in his theory about Keaton? In other words, can the will not to believe something be just as damaging as the will to believe something?
Chew on This
The Usual Suspects teaches us to be more skeptical of narrators and to look beneath the stories they're telling for secret motives.
The Usual Suspects teaches us not to be skeptical—because it encourages us, in the end, to believe in a legendary figure, Keyser Söze. It actually argues against our will to disbelieve, and to consider more startling explanations.