Synopsis

After a murdered call girl is found dismembered, wealthy heir James Wayland becomes the focus of a police investigation. During repeated polygraph tests, detectives attempt to expose his lies, but Wayland gradually turns the interrogation against them, revealing secrets from their private lives. As conflicting memories, accusations, and flashbacks reshape the case, the boundary between suspect, investigator, and deceiver becomes increasingly uncertain.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was released in the United Kingdom under the alternate title Liar.

• Deceiver premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 31, 1997, before its United States theatrical release on January 30, 1998.

• Tim Roth and Chris Penn were reunited here after appearing together in Reservoir Dogs (1992).

• The name Elizabeth Loftus references the real psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, whose work includes research into false memories.

• The film received awards for Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay at the 1997 Stockholm Film Festival.

• It also won the Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Cognac Police Film Festival.

• Mark Damon, who plays Wayland's father, made his final theatrical film appearance in Deceiver.