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Having just been dumped by her high school sweetheart, Tess Houston (Lorynn York) is looking forward to going away for the weekend for college orientation. While she’s there, however, Tess is stunned when she meets a familiar face: Sammy Crain, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. Both girls are ecstatic over finding each other, with Tess eagerly accepting Sammy’s invitation to spend some time at her parents’ place. With Sammy’s charming nature and her luxurious home, Tess’s reunion with her long-lost sister feels like a dream come true.
But it quickly becomes a nightmare when Tess discovers the bodies of Sammy’s adoptive parents and comes to realize her twin’s true intentions: to let Tess take the fall for her crimes while Sammy takes over her identity. As Sammy is making herself at home with Tess’s adoptive mother Patricia (Jennifer Taylor), Tess will have to fight to clear her name and reclaim her life from her psychotic sibling before it’s too late.
Two years ago, Lifetime gave us Killer Twin, a well-written and excellently cast Lifetime thriller that uses the classic “Evil Twin” trope to great effect. Now, Lifetime presents the similarly titled Twisted Twin, and while it has some weak spots that keep it from rising to the same level as Killer Twin, it’s another Lifetime thriller that utilizes its premise for all the drama and emotion it has to offer.
Wisely, Twisted Twin wastes little time setting its plot in motion with Tess and Sammy’s reunion, and even less time having Tess realize her long-lost sister’s true colors and find herself in a nightmarish situation thanks to Sammy’s scheme. With the film being so quick to throw you into the meat of the story, the slower-boiling middle act works due to the feeling of tension that permeates it. Twisted Twin keeps you watching through the slow build-up, wondering how Tess will be able to prove her innocence and how far Sammy will go to get what she wants.
But in addition to having all the Lifetime-ian drama a fan could ask for, Twisted Twin (much like its 2018 spiritual predecessor) has some touches of genuine emotion and heart. As played by Lorynn York, Sammy isn’t simply a psychotic young woman out to ruin her long-lost sister’s life; she’s a damaged girl angry and lashing out over the cruel hand life dealt her, starting with her callous separation from Tess. Throughout the film, we see glimpses of humanity within Sammy as she goes about her malicious plan, allowing you to wonder if she’s all that on board with destroying Tess’s life. The climax and conclusion allow this hidden side of Sammy to take center stage, and like with Killer Twin, the movie leaves us with the poignant sense that Sammy could’ve turned out better had life not set her down such a rough path.
Despite some hiccups, York makes for a strong lead, being at her strongest when playing Tess. York brings authentic shock-turned-joy to Tess’s sudden reunion with Sammy, making Sammy’s inevitable betrayal all the more heartwrenching to see unfold. York truly sells Tess’s heartache, as much as she sells Tess’s fury in the climax when she confronts Sammy about backstabbing her and using her painful past as an excuse to hurt her. York also shines during Sammy’s more intense moments, whether she’s ruthlessly carrying out her twisted scheme or letting her guard down to reveal the broken young girl lurking behind her ice cold demeanor.
But on the downside, York’s performance becomes less effective when it comes to scenes of Sammy posing as Tess or even earlier scenes when Sammy is putting on a friendly front to lure Tess into trusting her. Much like Eve Mauro in Killer Dream Home, York overplays Sammy’s sinisterness in these moments, with two specific instances coming across as especially baffling given Sammy’s apparent end goal. Her earlier moments of worming her way into Tess’s good graces are little better, and combined, Tess and Patricia have their moments of appearing stupid for not seeing Sammy’s transparent true colors.
Jennifer Taylor and York play well off each other in their moments of mother-daughter bonding, bringing as much weight to Tess and Patricia’s relationship as they can before the plot keeps them separated for much of the film. Taylor also makes up for her character’s stagnant development by playing Patricia with a maternal fire when it comes to the final act. Rory Gibson is chilling as Sammy’s equally ruthless partner-in-crime Damon, and in their fleeting scenes, Jack Armstrong and Julie Lancaster bring a callous apathy and cruelty to Mitch and Kim Crain, making them believable as the type of parents that would set Sammy down her dark path.
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