TWISTED
Canada, 2018, 90 minutes, Colour.
Elisabeth Harbnois, Morgan Kelly, Kimberly- Sue Murray, Victoria Sanchez, Thomas Mitchell, Michel Peron.
Directed by Philippe Gagnon.
Twisted is a twist title, a thriller about characters with twisted personalities, and a drama with a twist at the end.
A Canadian production, a lot of the action is set in the church (with the parish priest Father Macy allowing a psychologist to use one of the parish rooms for counselling, not looking exactly like a Catholic Church but that is the presumption, pictures of St Therese of Lisieux…). The counsellor has qualifications and is in a relationship with a man who previously had problems and had broken up a problematic relationship with a woman who is going to the psychiatrist for counselling. And her father is head of the police.
The ex-girlfriend begins to make problems for the psychologist, challenging her during sessions, provocative behaviour at the restaurant where she works, threatening and stalking… When complaints are made by the psychologist and the boyfriend, her father says there is an no evidence. When there is a home attack and attempted rape, the psychologist presses her claim.
There is tension between the fiancés. At some stage, audiences may well wonder who is actually the twisted personality and what is the psychology of the psychologist. Interesting in terms of the drama to gauge when it became obvious that there was something wrong with the psychologist.
The ending is more subtle in its explanation that than might have been expected, the psychologist orchestrating everything, leading up to the shooting of her rival, the revelation that she had organised the attack on herself – and the end of the film with her pregnant.
1. Psychological thriller? Twisted personalities? The narrative twist?
2. The Canadian settings, homes and apartments, the church and offices, restaurants? The musical score?
3. Kara’s story, as a psychologist, Father Macy allowing her to use the room in the church, her clients, her relationship with Tyler? The arrangements for the wedding? Her seeming normal?
4. Tyler, genial, his complicated past, the relationship with Elle? Destructive, breaking off? Meeting Kara, loving her, his job, the encounters with Elle, supporting Kara, going to the police for the restraining order?
5. Elle’s story, the twisted past, her relationship, the breakup, the declarations of love? Coming to Kara for counselling sessions, defying her, flaunting the past? Her behaviour in the restaurant? Threats, the issue of the restraining order? Her relationship with her father, his covering up for her?
6. Kara’s other client, her gratitude? The final sequence and the revelation about Kara using the woman for the attacks on her?
7. In the house, Kara’s fear, the police, phone calls, the intrusions, the sexual attack? Going to the police, the police chief and his reaction to save his daughter?
8. The buildup to the final confrontation, Tyler and the gun, Kara having it, the confrontation with Elle, shooting her?
9. At what time did the audience begin to be suspicious of Kara, earlier or later? The solution, Kara pregnant, the future?
