Beautiful & Twisted
  • Network: Lifetime
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 31, 2015
Metascore
46

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4

Critic Reviews

  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jan 30, 2015
    60
    The story is cheekily told here, and pretty well, if you don’t mind “cheeky” as the tone for a tale in which real people died.
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jan 29, 2015
    50
    Beautiful & Twisted is hardly a stretch, falling squarely within the narrow niche that Lifetime movies occupy; still, it’s an example that wedding the right talent to such material will likely yield dividends.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    Jan 23, 2015
    50
    Everything in the Novacks' life is portrayed as being over the top, and Beautiful & Twisted's setup certainly matches that tone. What doesn't quite match up is the acting. Lowe's narration fits as apologetically irreverent, but Vega's performance is somewhere between Showgirls and a Dateline special.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Feb 2, 2015
    25
    The whole thing feels awkward, including the way Ben provides running commentary on all the action in hindsight, after he's already dead.

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. quincytheodore
    Jun 10, 2015
    5
    Dysfunctional fantasy of the rich, crude and unappealing despite the glamor. What starts like a noir thriller, complete with narration fromDysfunctional fantasy of the rich, crude and unappealing despite the glamor. What starts like a noir thriller, complete with narration from the male lead, turns out to be a series of physical and mental abuses. It resembles a sensational tabloid, spamming view of attractive women, cash and drug, but ultimately offers no intelligent insight. Though it has a couple of good performances, the entire logic hinges on the seductress' ability to dodge peril simply because she's attractive, which admittedly she is, even though without clever plan whatsoever.

    Ben (Rob Lowe) is born with silver spoon and grows up at showgirls’ dressing room. He is not the best judge of character nor does he have decent moral compass, which is why he falls for Narcy (Paz Vega), a stunning exotic dancer. Along the years of their relationships, it's apparent that Narcy has appetite for hurting people. This is no Gone Girl, don't expect smart planning or foresight, it's a thriller where the girl does whatever she wants as she spirals into madness.

    Granted, Paz Vega is an appropriate cast for the seductress, she's attractive and has a deceptively ominous air about her. However, the role is shallow, she's continuously mistreating those around her just for the sake of being cruel and Ben does nothing but narrates. Candice Bergen as Ben's mother is compelling, partially because she seems to be the most rational character.

    Aside for a few titillating glamorous scenes, lavish atmosphere and semi dark comedy, the film barely keeps the plot together. It resorts in abrupt twists for shock value or sudden exaggerated change. Beautiful and Twisted will only suffice for those wanting a casual drama, as a crime thriller it simply relies on the good looks and not on the twisted intricacy.    … Full Review »
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