Regarding the bloody story of 'Keyser Söze' killing his own family as told by Verbal Kint during interrogation, do you think it actually happened, or is it the most vicious lie he fabricated to create the 'demon' image?

Okay, let's talk about that endlessly fascinating and chilling story within The Usual Suspects.

A Carefully Woven Lie, or a Brutal Truth?

My take is this: It is almost certainly the most vicious, and core, lie fabricated by Verbal Kint to construct the demonic image of 'Keyser Söze'.

But the brilliance of this lie lies in the fact that it likely contains a sliver of "truth." Let me explain slowly.

Why is it a lie?

This brings us to the film's most classic, most mind-blowing ending.

Everything on the "Bulletin Board" Remember the final scene where Agent Kujan stares at the bulletin board in his office, coffee cup in hand, and then the cup crashes to the floor? That's the moment he (and all of us viewers) finally understand.
- All the key names, places, and even minor details in the story Verbal Kint told weren't from his own experience; they were improvised on the spot by looking at various pieces of information on the bulletin board.
- For example, the "Redfoot" gang came from a wanted criminal's nickname; the lawyer "Kobayashi" came from the brand name on a coffee cup at his feet; the "Skokie barbershop quartet" he mentioned came from a missing persons notice for Skokie, Illinois.
Since the entire skeleton of the story was cobbled together from office clutter, then the most shocking, core scene of "Keyser Söze killing his family" is naturally also highly likely to be the pinnacle of his improvisation.
The Purpose of the Lie: Perfect Psychological Manipulation Verbal Kint wasn't simply telling a story; he was waging a psychological war on Agent Kujan that lasted for hours. He needed to construct an image, one that would fascinate and terrify Kujan, ultimately causing him to overlook the "crippled, insignificant little con man" sitting right in front of him.
- Creating an "Unfathomable" Demon: What's the core of this story? "I'd rather kill my family than let them become your leverage." This message conveys: Keyser Söze is a man with no weaknesses, no bottom line. You cannot predict him by normal logic, nor threaten him with family, money, or anything else. He is pure, absolute will.
- Diverting the Agent's Attention: Kujan is a self-assured cop who believes he can see through any criminal's motives. Verbal gives him the story he most wants to hear—an epic about a legendary demon. Kujan becomes completely immersed in this story, busy analyzing who this "Keyser Söze" is, while completely failing to notice that the real Keyser Söze is sitting right across from him, using everything in his office to run rings around him.

Could it possibly be true?

This is where the story gets truly brilliant. Although the version Verbal told in the interrogation room was improvised, the legend of "Keyser Söze killing his own family" likely does exist as truth within the criminal underworld.

Think about it:

The Power of Legend: A person's reputation, especially a crime lord's, is often built on one or two "signature acts" terrifying enough to intimidate everyone. This bloody story is the very root of why the name "Keyser Söze" makes everyone in the underworld tremble. Without such a "foundational myth," his reign of terror would lack credibility.
Verbal Merely "Retold" the Legend: It can be understood that Verbal Kint (aka Keyser Söze himself) didn't "invent" this story in the interrogation room. He simply took a legend about himself that had long circulated in the underworld and, using the office props as "actors" and "scenery," "reenacted" it for Kujan.

So, the reality might be this: Long ago, Keyser Söze really did establish his unshakeable status through an extremely brutal act (perhaps killing his family, perhaps a similar event). This story became his calling card and talisman. Today, in the interrogation room, he effortlessly reenacted this "core concept," wrapping it in brand-new details for Kujan to hear.

Conclusion: The Perfect Blend of Lie and Truth

So, back to your question:

Was the bloody story Verbal Kint told in the interrogation about 'Keyser Söze' killing his own family true, or a lie he fabricated?

The most accurate answer is:

The specific version he narrated was a lie, but the cruel essence of "Keyser Söze" that this lie aimed to convey, and the legend itself, are highly likely to be true.

This is precisely the film's greatness. It blurs the line between truth and fiction. Verbal Kint uses a story woven from countless small lies to ultimately point towards one enormous, terrifying truth—he is Keyser Söze.

Just like the classic line quoted at the film's end: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." And Verbal Kint went one step further: he made you focus all your attention on that "legendary devil," while ignoring the seemingly harmless "mortal" sitting right in front of you.