Is Twisted woke?
Twisted (2026)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2026
Wokeness Score
5/10
Socially Conscious
Clear woke themes are present and intentional, but feel balanced and organic to the story. The message supports the plot and characters rather than dominating them.
Key Summary Points
- Lesbian con artist couple central to scam plot with steamy romance scenes.
- Diverse casting with Black lead antagonist in horror-thriller role.
- Modern millennial characters and sexuality elements feel integrated but not dominant.
Wokeness Analysis
Twisted (2026) features a central lesbian couple, Paloma and Smith, portrayed as millennial con artists using their relationship and feminine appeal in scams. This element adds modern diversity and inclusion that feels somewhat integrated into the character dynamics and plot setup rather than purely tokenistic. Reviews note the romance includes steamy scenes that some describe as serving a male gaze, blending it with the thriller elements. The diverse casting includes Black actor Djimon Hounsou as the antagonist surgeon, which provides representation without explicit ideological lectures on race or identity. The story focuses primarily on crime, deception, body horror experiments involving brain transplants, and revenge in a horror-thriller framework directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. No heavy-handed messaging on systemic issues, gender theory, or social justice appears to dominate the narrative. Subtle modern sensibilities around sexuality and casting are present but do not overshadow the escapism of the con-gone-wrong plot or the graphic violence and twists. The film earns an R rating for gore, sexual assault, and language, keeping the tone adult-oriented without preachiness. Overall, the woke elements are noticeable yet balanced within the entertainment-driven story.
Plot
Two millennial women, Paloma and Smith, run a real estate scam in New York City by leasing luxury apartments they do not own. Their scheme unravels when they target a brilliant but deranged neurosurgeon, Dr. Robert Kezian, who has his own dark agenda involving illegal brain transplant experiments to save his dying wife. Paloma becomes his captive subject in horrific medical procedures blending body horror and psychological thriller elements. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman with a cast including Lauren LaVera, Djimon Hounsou, Mia Healey, and Alicia Witt, the film mixes con artistry, graphic violence, and twists in a 93-minute R-rated package released on digital VOD in February 2026.