“Twisted” follows a con artist whose real estate scam unravels into a living nightmare when she’s captured by a surgeon who has terrifying plans.

This doesn’t hold back from immediately showing the audience what kind of movie it’s going to be. With wipe transitions, fast-paced editing and an upbeat score, it sets the stage for a fun yet “twisted” time.

A Fast and Stylish Start

“Twisted” takes the same approach in the introduction of its characters. The film throws a lot of information at viewers in a short amount of time, quickly showcasing who each individual is and what their surface-level goals are. Even in just minutes, it establishes small cues and traits that are core to the characters’ identities.

These seemingly minuscule moments come into play in big ways as the film progresses.

While this approach can feel slightly all over the place at times, it surprisingly works. This is because, just as quickly, the film shifts everything in a new direction.

“Twisted” is full of surprises. What starts as a deviously witty game of cat and mouse turns into something much more sinister – and much more simple.

Eventually, the film becomes more of an isolated experience, examining the horrors within a single location. But this doesn’t stop it from still escaping those confines to add new stakes to the overarching narrative.

Because of this, the plot continues to move forward in intriguing directions rather than becoming stale. Eventually, it gets so weird that it’s hard not to fall in love with it.

While finding ways to reinvent the wheel, elements of “Twisted” can’t help but feel forced at times. Characters make inexplicable decisions at a moment’s notice, often with little to no explanation in between.

Style Over Logic

This causes aspects of the plot to feel underdeveloped. With a 93-minute runtime, “Twisted” would have benefited from letting moments sit just a little longer, lingering on the discomfort.

Director Darren Lynn Bousman’s style is all over “Twisted.” It’s blood-soaked fun in unique ways. While there are generic tropes within the carnage, Bousman also takes bold swings.

Cinematographer Bella Gonzales adds to the movie’s aesthetic as well. One of the boldest choices comes in the visuals. As the movie advances, the aspect ratio closes in, generating a feeling of claustrophobia as the horrors creep closer and closer. On top of this are the vibrant colors that soak deeper into each shot as “Twisted” reaches its conclusion.

The performances from Lauren LaVera (Paloma) and Djimon Hounsou (Dr. Kezian) carry the film home.

LaVera continues to show that she is becoming a mainstay in the horror genre. She’s cunning and witty while also carrying a menacing edge. Hounsou may have her beat there, however, playing a character who feels desperately out of control. Their performances bounce off each other to perfection, with clashing craziness resulting in many tense moments.

No Heroes Here

Despite the actors’ efforts, “Twisted” does have a big problem: it’s difficult to root for either of them. While the characters have some redeeming qualities, both are ultimately villains in their own way. There’s a clear character the audience is meant to side with, but none of the onscreen personas truly earn that investment.

Instead, it becomes a barrage of antagonists that sometimes blend together too much.

“Twisted” doesn’t deliver much substance, but it brings plenty of flair to the horror-thriller genre. It’s a mixture of generic and bizarre that manages to stand out through its performances, visuals and style.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5