In their first feature film, Unknown (which opened at the E Street Cinema on Friday), director Simon Brand and screenwriter Matthew Waynee demonstrate that they have absorbed the lessons of thrillers like Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Memento, Pi, Sixth Sense, and The Usual Suspects. That is, a thriller's thrill comes from delaying the audience's understanding of the real circumstances and motivations of the characters as long as possible. If the screenplay can keep the characters from knowing much about it either, so much the better. Unfortunately, that is just not possible without some believable gimmick. Unknown may not be not as good as any of the models listed above, but it is a solid first attempt at the genre. Enough for the Weinstein brothers to distribute the film independently, in a select few locations, as well as by video-on-demand through IFC Films. more ›