Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Recently promoted and transferred to the homicide division, Inspector Jessica Shepard feels pressure to prove herself -- and what better way than by solving San Francisco's latest murder? However, as Shepard and her partner, Mike Delmarco, soon discover, the victim shared a romantic connection to her. As more of Shepard's ex-lovers turn up dead, her mind starts to become unstable, and she begins to wonder if she could be the very killer she's trying to track down.
Twisted (2004) is a formulaic serial killer thriller that fails to capitalize on its potentially interesting premise. The plot, while intriguing on paper — a detective investigating murders of her own ex-lovers — is riddled with predictable twists and a contrived, unsatisfying resolution. Ashley Judd delivers a committed but ultimately one-note performance, and the supporting cast including Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia are underutilized. The San Francisco cinematography is competent but generic, offering little visual distinction. The film's central conceit of an unreliable protagonist had been done better in numerous predecessors, and it doesn't bring enough fresh perspective to stand out. The ending in particular feels rushed and telegraphed, undermining whatever tension had been built. Overall, a below-average entry in a crowded genre.