⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Lauren LaVera, Djimon Hounsou, Gina Philips
Going into Twisted, I genuinely had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that it was a horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, had a possible torture-heavy angle in the vein of Saw, and starred Lauren LaVera and Djimon Hounsou. That was enough to get me in the door.
The story centers around a deadly game engineered by a calculated antagonist, trapping characters in a morally and physically punishing scenario. It follows a familiar torture-thriller structure: capture, manipulation, escalating stakes, and the slow unraveling of motives behind the madness. It’s not reinventing the genre — but it’s trying to put its own personality into it.
Lauren LaVera is the clear standout. Much like she became the emotional anchor of the Terrifier franchise, she brings strength and conviction to what could have been a generic “final girl in peril” role. She plays someone thrown into chaos with no idea what’s happening — but she never feels passive. There’s resilience in her performance that makes you root for her.
Djimon Hounsou makes for a compelling antagonist. He carries an early charm that almost convinces you he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. But when the situation escalates and he snaps, that calm exterior fractures in a messy, unsettling way.
And I was pleasantly surprised to see Gina Philips show up here. It’s always fun seeing genre veterans pop up, and she adds a bit of horror credibility to the mix.
Darren Lynn Bousman knows how to stage tension. The first and second acts are where the film works best. There are moments of real excitement, dark humor, and uncomfortable suspense that remind you he understands this corner of horror.
But structurally, it follows a very familiar path. The beats feel predictable, and by the time the third act rolls around, it loses some of its momentum. The final stretch doesn’t escalate in a way that feels as sharp or satisfying as it should.
Ironically, for someone who constantly says we get too many two-plus-hour movies, this one might have benefited from another 15 minutes. Expanding the police investigation subplot could have helped the story feel more cohesive instead of slightly rushed and messy in its wrap-up.
It’s basic — but also oddly convoluted. That combination doesn’t always make for the smoothest watch.
The practical effects are appreciated. There’s something refreshing about seeing tangible, in-camera horror rather than overused CGI. That said, with an R-rated horror film titled Twisted, I expected more gore. It pushes boundaries at times, but not quite as far as the setup suggests.
The production design works for what it is — contained, claustrophobic, and tense — but it never quite feels iconic or visually striking.
I liked the concept. I liked the cast. And I enjoyed parts of it more than I expected to. But I never fully got invested in what was happening. The stakes felt real in moments, especially early on, but the emotional connection didn’t deepen enough to make the third act hit hard.
It’s one of those movies where you can see the potential, and you appreciate the performances, but you’re left wishing it had just a bit more narrative weight and originality.
There are solid performances and a few tense sequences worth revisiting, but as a complete experience, it doesn’t feel essential enough to return to regularly.
Final Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆
Twisted delivers a competent torture-thriller with strong performances, particularly from Lauren LaVera, who continues to prove she’s one of the more compelling modern horror leads.
It doesn’t bring much new to the genre, and the storytelling feels familiar and slightly uneven — especially in the final act. But it has enough tension, personality, and practical effects to make it a decent watch.
Not groundbreaking. Not terrible. Just solid, middle-of-the-road horror with flashes of something stronger.
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