Arguments For and Against a Sequel to “The Usual Suspects”

This piece took almost two decades for me to write, so bare with me at it’s odd nature.  People always ask me, what is your favorite film of all time?  I break it down to three, not one, this piece is about one specifically.  It all started when I was over at a friends place when I was 12, his family had a pay per view un scrambler (he got movies for free for those under 25) and we decided to watch something that was on during the day.  Glancing over the porn we moved on to watching “The Usual Suspects.”  Now before this I loved films, but there was something special about this film, the writing specifically.  I couldn’t pay attention to anything else that was going on around me, the movie was thrilling. I went home and begged my mom to let me order it on pay per view so I can sit and fully experience the film again.  This second viewing was the moment I decided I wanted to be a part of the film making process, especially writing.

Through the years whenever I talk about the film with people, a lot of theories arise as to what it was all about and if there could ever be another.  That’s the thing now right?  Remakes, revisits, sequels to films 10 or 15 years old?  Why?  We cling to the familiar, properties we know have delivered before, and if all the previous players are involved with this proposed sequel (Actors, directors, writers) it will likely deliver again.  When the fact of the matter is it will very much unlikely (and in a spectacular fashion sometimes) be any good or as good as the original.

The end of “The Usual Suspects” merits more films, that’s clear.  The cat and mouse game Agent Kujan and Verbal/Keyser Soze have going on can continue, both men are alive and Agent Kujan knows Keyser Soze’s secret.  The obvious is another film where agent Kujan pursues Verbal/Keyser Soze to a spectacular end.  The actor that played Agent Kujan said himself that it was in the “works” back in 2004 (article here).  I don’t think this would work, think about the tension the thought of Keyser Soze brought to the first film, that can’t translate knowing the truth for an entire next film.  The mystery is gone.  Also, for the fact of the matter, Verbal tells Agent Kujan: “After this, my guess is you’ll never see him again”, so their story is done.

The other obvious idea is a prequel.  Tell the story of Keyser Soze in Europe and how he rose to power.  Again, a generic idea for a film that will probably go direct to video.  Don’t get me wrong, somebody can do a good crime film sequel (Godfather 2, can’t think of any others) but in this economy, it’s highly unlikely it would end up being any good. Some indie studio will buy up the rights and make some mediocre film about the most interesting bad guy in history.  Ruining the origin films name (See “Carlito’s way 2: Rise to Power”).

The reason that is not a great idea is it goes against the entire point of “The Usual Suspects”:

There is no Keyser Soze.

He is an idea, a myth that Verbal Kint uses in his favor.  It’s his shield and his sword he used to work for him.  So my view for a sequel is this:

It shouldn’t be a sequel, it should never mention the events of “The Usual Suspects” and Keyser Soze should just be brought up in passing.  It should just be about Verbal, a con artist tricking hard criminals.  Getting bad people to do what he wants, that’s what “The Usual Suspects” was all about.  No he is not Keyser Soze, you know why?  Because like Verbal clearly states “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” He was just perpetuating the myth to stir up a bigger than life, untouchable character for others in that first film to fear.  The story of “The Usual Suspects” was one moment in this guys big life.   A new film should just be about the man who pulled it off, exposing who he really is and his motives.

But again, any idea needs a great writer and Christopher McQuarrie’s original script was brilliant, anybody could have made a great film as long as they stuck to his blue print.  In the least McQuarrie should be brought back to try and stir up the magic again. 

Otherwise, don’t touch the classics.

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