How far would you go for the man you think you love? When all else fails, black magic may save the heart, but it does not necessarily keep people alive—just one of the inconvenient side effects that makes Twisted Love the psychological thriller it is.
Twisted Love, directed by Akasha Williams, who also plays Detective James Fuller in the movie, is a dark thriller in which obsession and black magic create a psychopathic killer no one can stop, especially for Summer (Summer), whose obsessive love for the film’s male lead, Niko (Deondric Davis), turns Niko into a monster.
The over-the-top thriller Twisted Love may push cultural boundaries or stereotypes and challenge assumed behavior, but at its core, it addresses jealousy, lust, obsession, and heartache, all part of human nature that never changes.
After lovemaking, when Niko, a money-obsessed real estate man, calls Summer, Vanessa, Niko tells Summer she will never be the one and that Vanessa is his fiancée, which sets her off on a drunken tirade, even calling 911, saying she might kill Niko, prompting Detective James Fuller to respond to her home.
Extremely distraught by being jilted by Niko, Summer finds relief in black magic because “a black woman’s anger is her thunder,” and uses her tears, sweat, and blood to get her man back.
“…obsession and black magic create a psychopathic killer no one can stop…”
Using her monthly body discard for a spaghetti meal, Summer lures Niko back, who becomes obsessed with Summer, whose scantily dressed appeal draws everyone’s attention. However, Niko’s jealousy is fueled every time any man even looks in Summer’s direction. With numerous dead bodies around, Fuller continues to follow Summer to unravel the mystery behind the murders, which leads to his own demise.
Created in the spirit of film noir, Twisted Love is a low-budget thriller with splashes of horror. Although the acting is less than thrilling, there is some decent dialogue that compensates for the actors’ lack of connection with one another. Filmed in Kansas City, the emptiness of the movie’s many locations and the bleakness of the present season add to Twisted Love’s ambiance, along with some interesting camera angles here and there.
Although you might reconsider eating spaghetti the next time it is in front of you, Twisted Love does have some highlights, especially for Summer’s boss at the salon, and also her best friend Jordan (Christian Lewis), who has some of the film’s best dialogue, and a random character, Robin (Antonio Lee Gerald Tubbs), who is a male wedding planner. Summer does have a star acting moment when she tries to explain to Detective Fuller how she poisoned Niko, which ultimately becomes her downfall, but not all that sure, as the film ends with unfinished business.
"…created in the spirit of film noir..."
