A scene from 'Unidentified'

Unidentified review: TIFF 2025

‘Unidentified’ is a carefully crafted whodunit that follows a true crime enthusiast’s unofficial investigation into a possible honour killing.

Nawal (Mila Alzahrani) works at a local police precinct performing the most menial task: digitizing old case files. But a shared love of a true crime podcast sparks a rapport with her boss. So when a female officer is unavailable, he asks Nawal to accompany him to a crime scene where someone has discovered a dead woman’s body in the desert.

Audiences love a good whodunit. The order in which clues are revealed is crucial to a film’s success. Filmmakers must anticipate the audience’s line of thought and answer their questions as they naturally arise. This film does that, while also navigating social roadblocks that regrettably help preserve the mystery.

Read the full review of Unidentified at thatshelf.com

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