Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Twisted Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 19, 2024

Philip Kaufman's "Twisted" (2004) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by Philip Kaufman; three archival featurettes; deleted scenes with optional audio commentary; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

It is sad to see so many talented people involved in a terrible film like Twisted. If Twisted were made by inexperienced newcomers, it would have been easier to understand why it exists. Sometimes bad and terrible films need to be made so that newcomers can learn from their mistakes and become better. But Philip Kaufman, Andy Garcia, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ashley Judd are not newcomers, they are the type of professionals that newcomers should be studying and learning from.

In San Francisco, single cop Jessica Shepard (Judd) has completed the work required to become an inspector. However, the accomplishment has further exposed the fractured, deeply unsatisfying nature of her existence. Her mentor, police commissioner John Mills (Jackson), a former partner of her late father, has been enormously supportive but has not made her feel better. It is why she has been frequently picking up strangers at the local bar and drinking heavily – sex and alcohol have been the only effective antidotes for her misery.

Shortly after Shepard is officially assigned to work with veteran inspector Mike Delmarco (Garcia), someone begins killing the strangers she has slept with. At first, she and Delmarco assume that the killer could be her former lover (Mark Pellegrino), also a miserable loner, but as more information emerges, they change their minds. After several violent incidents, multiple sessions with a psychiatrist (David Strathairn), an admission that she frequently experiences mental blackouts, and a failure to explain why she has woken up next to the bloodied body of yet another victim, Shepard becomes the prime murder suspect. However, while behind bars and on the verge of a serious nervous breakdown, Shepard is informed by Mills that a blood test has revealed that in her system there are traces of a powerful drug causing mental blackouts like the ones she has struggled with.

It is easy to declare that the source of all major problems in Twisted is a shockingly poor screenplay by Sarah Thorp, who had written and directed only one other film. The characterizations, the murder mystery with mandatory twists, and the majority of the dialog are just awful. But the stars look bad before the camera too, and not because they struggle to deliver their lines as needed. For example, in multiple sequences, Judd pretends to be a macho boozer who can overpower big and muscular guys with attitudes in a variety of ways. But she effectively sells an angry model who has lost an important competition. Garcia, a terrific actor, contributes to this ridiculous theater, too. Meanwhile, the screenplay relentlessly bombards both with amateurish distractions and demands that they appear perplexed until the inevitable emergence of the elusive killer.

The rejection of the obvious does as much damage to Twisted as well. For example, if Judd is a brilliant inspector -- there are multiple sequences where she proves before Jackson that her mind constantly reads her environment perfectly -- why isn’t she suspicious of her mental blackouts? Each night, just minutes after she pours herself a glass of her favorite red wine, she passes out. She does not pass out when she drinks and picks up guys at the local bar. Why? How come she passes out only at home, where she drinks red wine? Could there be something in the red wine that immediately forces her mind to unplug itself from reality?

Finally, the killer and his motives are utterly ridiculous. The murders are supposed to be part of a coherent plan, but his ultimate goal is easily achievable without the multiple victims or Judd’s descent into madness. In fact, the murders are at odds with the effect he seeks and their relationship to Judd and her condition.

Kaufman used the services of cinematographer Peter Deming, who lensed two of David Lynch’s most atmospheric films, Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive.

Twisted Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Twisted arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Your immediate impression will be that Twisted looks outstanding on Blu-ray. However, the more you see, the more you will begin to realize that various parts of it should look better. For example, a lot of the darker indoor close-ups tend to boast very pleasing detail, clarity, and depth. But whenever there is plenty of natural light, and especially during wider panoramic shots, backgrounds become quite soft and fine nuances begin to disappear. I do not know why because these fluctuations are not consistent. They pop up and disappear, and then pop up again, and then disappear again. I suspect that some very light filter has been applied to make the visuals smoother, which may explain why even some of the best looking close-ups reveal light black crush. Image stability is outstanding. Color balance is terrific, but this should not be surprising considering that Twisted was completed in 2004. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Twisted Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which shines in all the ways you would expect from a lossless track replicating the native qualities of a contemporary soundtrack. For example, Mark Isham's rich score easily creates wonderful dynamic contrasts, which together with some effects become crucial elements of the desired atmosphere. The gunshot and car noises sound predictably excellent as well. The dialog is exceptionally clean, sharp, and easy to follow.

Twisted Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this audio commentary, director Phillip Kaufman reveals that he always wanted to shoot a film noir in San Francisco, and the closest he ever got to doing so was in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Kauffman explains that San Francisco has a natural noir identity that is perfect for the mystery, atmosphere, and tension that exist in the work of Dashiell Hammett. After that, he discusses in great detail the unique qualities of the main characters in Twisted, as well as their dilemmas as the murders begin.

• Featurettes - presented here are three archival EPKs with cast and crew interviews, as well as footage from the shooting of Twisted. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Creating a Twisted Web of Intrigue. (11 min).
  2. The Inspectors: Clues to the Crime. (10 min).
  3. San Fracisco: Scene of the Crime. (7 min).

• Cutting Room Floor Deleted Scenes - presented here are several deleted scenes, which can be viewed with an audio commentary by Phillip Kaufman. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Twisted. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Twisted Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you wish to understand why the great neo-noir renaissance ended with the 1990s, book a date with Twisted and compare it to the likes of To Live and Die in L.A., Romeo Is Bleeding, One False Move, Red Rock West, and The Hot Spot. The gap in quality between Twisted and these films could not be any more drastic. The only compliment I can give Twisted is to state that it was graced with yet another marvelous score composed by the always reliable Mark Isham.