Twisted (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Aug 19, 2024
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Philip KaufmanRelease Date(s)
2004 (July 30, 2024)Studio(s)
Kopelson Entertainment/Paramount Pictures (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)- Film/Program Grade: B-
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: A+
Review
Twisted is a police procedural/thriller set in San Francisco, with an unusual premise that keeps us guessing. A serial murderer is on the loose and a recently promoted female detective is assigned to the case. This dark drama deals with a crucial connection between the detective and the victims.
Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd, A Time to Kill), a macho cop in a man’s world, single-handedly collars a rapist (Leland Orser, Taken) who attacked her, but only after he held a knife to her neck and was about to kill her. Jessica has just been promoted to homicide detective and goes to a bar to celebrate with her cop friends. Afterward, she walks to a waterfront dive where she downs a few more whiskeys and picks up a sleazy guy for some rough sex. Back at her own apartment, alone, she pours herself a few glasses of wine and blacks out.
At the new job, she meets her assigned partner, Mike Delmarco (Andy Garcia, Ocean’s Eleven), and the other homicide detectives, all men. She also visits the precinct psychologist (David Strathairn) for the obligatory evaluation every cop must undergo after a traumatic on-the-job experience. Last on her first-day agenda, she’s assigned her first murder case. A body has been found floating in the bay. Though he’s been badly beaten, Jessica recognizes him from one of her one-night stands a while back. His body bears a cigarette burn on one hand. Two more bodies turn up soon after with similar burns. Jessica recognizes them as men she’s had as sexual partners.
The police commissioner, John Mills (Samuel L. Jackson, Glass), was her father’s partner on the force and raised Jessica after both her parents died. Mills is concerned about her mental state when he learns of the tie between her and the three murdered men. She continues seeing the shrink, who delves into her troubled past, and she tells Delmarco about her connection to the murdered men. Because of her heavy drinking, Jessica fears she may have committed the murders and completely blacked out afterwards, but there’s no evidence linking her to the crimes. Delmarco’s behavior is somewhat odd. Might he be the killer?
Twisted is a fast-paced whodunit with a solid cast and crisp direction by Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff). Judd is center stage here and shows a good range from arrogant, self-assured cop to hazy, confused alcoholic. Her Jessica is flawed but she’s a good cop whose powers of observation serve her well. A single woman in a man’s world, she’s at least as capable as they and isn’t intimidated by their snide remarks. Garcia has a far less showy role and isn’t given much opportunity to display his range. He’s fine in the part, but Delmarco could have been played by any other competent actor with a similar look.
As Commissioner Mills, Jackson conveys intelligence, authority, and compassion as he deals with Jessica. He’s her father surrogate and has looked after her since she was a child. Tough and no-nonsense on the job, he nonetheless empathizes with Jessica’s mental anguish as the serial murder case unfolds.
In a small but showcase part, Camryn Manheim plays expert forensics technician Lisa, who relishes extracting clues from corpses that will put away their killers. She’s thoroughly sure of her abilities and practically joyful in doing her part to solve crimes. Manheim adds some humor to an otherwise dark picture.
Twisted does have its script problems—convenient coincidences, cop movie cliches, plot holes, and questionable police procedure issues. But screenwriter Sarah Thorp creates suspense and sustains it throughout despite these flaws. The performances are all very good, from the stars to the main supporting cast to the actors in the smallest roles. Director Kaufman manages to show the off-duty side of law enforcement as well as cops on the job, but never elevates Twisted from more than an extended episode of a TV police procedural.
Twisted was shot by director of photography Peter Deming on 35 mm film with spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray features a brand new master from a 4K scan of the 35 mm original camera negative. Clarity and contrast are excellent. The opening shot is a fog-enshrouded Golden Gate Bridge, a familiar sight to anyone who has been to San Francisco. There’s a gritty look to the harbor with water lapping at wooden pilings. An alleyway has been hosed down and dressed with neon signs to represent a seedy part of the city, creating a nice noir feel. A bar is bathed in red light, and some key night scenes take place in a low-lying mist. Make-up of the victims is gruesome and bloody. Editing is brisk and adds tension. Jessica’s congratulation party scene is packed with extras and resembles an authentic celebration. A dive bar is dimly lit, with questionable-looking characters sitting around.
There are two soundtrack options, English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. English SDH subtitles are an available option. Dialogue is clear and distinct. Ambient noise in bars and at Jessica’s celebration include music and background chatter. Sound effects include police sirens, gun shots, a piercing scream, sea lions barking in San Francisco Bay, seagulls, the engine of a police launch, and glass shattering.
Bonus materials on the Region A Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics include the following:
- Audio Commentary by Philip Kaufman
- Creating a Twisted Web of Intrigue (11:00)
- The Investigators: Clues to the Crime (10:01)
- San Francisco: Scenę of the Crime (6:57)
- Cutting Room Floor: Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary (16:21)
- Trailer (2:03)
- Changing Lanes Trailer (2:26)
- Eastern Promises Trailer (2:22)
- In Bruges Trailer (2:30)
- The Score Trailer (2:30)
- Suspect Zero Trailer (2:14)
- D.C Cab Trailer (2:33)
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers Trailer (2:16)
- The Wanderers Trailer (1:53)
Audio Commentary – Director Philip Kaufman wanted to make a film noir in San Francisco for many years. He was “entranced” with the Twisted script and looked forward to updating the world of Dashiell Hammett. The opening montage, under the credits, sets the location. As the film unfolds, Kaufman talks about plot points. Delmarco doesn’t reveal a lot about himself. Samuel L. Jackson’s police commissioner is the “master of suavity.” He’s taught Jessica to sharpen her senses and has looked after her since her father was killed. The session with the therapist shows an explosive side to Jessica’s personality. She looks to the past for clues about her present. As the film goes forward, Jessica looks backward. Clues are left throughout the film. Jackson was eager to play the role. It wasn’t specifically written for an African American. Jackson had an uncanny heightened sense of every detail as both actor and character. Jessica’s past flashes were shot on video to distinguish her present reality from what’s in her mind. The relationship between Jessica and Delmarco gets edgier as the film progresses. The rear screen process was employed to show a rainy night, adding an atmospheric touch. Because of the professionalism of cast and crew and walking distance to the set, Kaufman concludes, “Each day coming to work was a joy.”
Creating a Twisted Web of Intrigue – Philip Kaufman provides a brief synopsis of the film, which starts off seeming to be about a woman in peril, but it’s much more. He refers to Twisted as a “psychological story.” As he discusses the characters, clips from the film are shown. Though Ashley Judd’s character is tough, she’s well-rounded with a fully expressive personality and sexuality. Typical gender expectations are reversed and all characters have an authentic quality. As depicted, the police world is a tightly knit community. John Mills is a protective figure. An interesting dynamic exists between Jessica and Delmarco. Jessica’s blackouts get worse and she begins to wonder whether she’s actually the killer the police are looking for. Kaufman refers to Twisted as a “sleight-of-hand thriller.” The film is a “mystery puzzle” that builds subtly until it’s solved.
The Inspectors: Clues to the Crime – Director Philip Kaufman acknowledges the advisors who were on set to insure authenticity. They include Detective Maureen D’Amico, who compares her own story of entering the force as one of the first female officers to Jessica’s story. “It was fun watching someone play me in real life.” Dr. Forrest Fulton, who works with police officers immersed in trauma, explains how vital therapy is in preserving and/or restoring an officer’s mental health. He speaks about blackouts, suicidal tendencies, alcoholism, and troubled home lives as possible responses to trauma on the job. A film and psychology work the same way; in each, a story reveals itself gradually.
San Francisco: Scene of the Crime – Director Philip Kaufman walks through areas in San Francisco where scenes were shot. Fog was great for a picture that tried to capture a noir feeling. Kaufman and the proprietor of the Tosca Cafe, a key location in Twisted, talk about the North Beach section of San Francisco. The film’s office and sound stages were at the Presidio.
Cutting Room Floor: Deleted Scenes – This feature can be watched with or without director Philip Kaufman’s commentary. Shown are scenes that were eliminated from or cut down for the final cut of the film. Kaufman explains the reasons for the trims, such as repetition, slowing the pace, or over-clarification.
Movies need not be perfect to be entertaining. Twisted holds the viewer as it unfolds but afterwards, many questions arise as to the logic of the script. The film is carried by first-rate performances and direction that manage to distract from screenplay shortcomings. Twisted can be frustrating in its dependence on cliches, but it does create an atmosphere of danger and desperation. Those who enjoy cop procedurals will either love it or clench their teeth at some of its illogic.
- Dennis Seuling