---
title: "Philip Kaufman's 'Twisted' walks like a thriller and talks like a thr… — Roger Ebert Quote #51 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "Philip Kaufman's 'Twisted' walks like a thriller and talks like a thriller, but it squawks like a turkey. — a quote by Roger Ebert."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # Philip Kaufman's 'Twisted' walks like a thriller and talks like a thriller, but it squawks like a turkey.

[Roger Ebert](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert)\#51

[Film](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/film/)[Criticism](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/criticism/)[Film criticism](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/film-criticism/)[Genre](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/genre/)[Execution](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/execution/)[Expectations](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/expectations/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?Ebert uses a simple metaphor to state that the movie looks and sounds like a thriller but behaves like something worthless. The film fails to deliver on the genre promises it makes.In plain termsThe movie looks like a thriller but performs poorly like a turkey.What can you take from it?Films must deliver on the genre expectations they set up visually and tonally.

### Where it applies

- watching thrillers
- evaluating genre films
- reviewing marketing vs product

### Putting it to work

- identify genre mismatches
- assess payoff vs setup
- critique film identity

### Questions to consider

- Does a thriller need to thrill?
- When is subversion successful?

### Another view

Subverting genre expectations can sometimes be a deliberate artistic choice.

## More from Roger Ebert

1. > Here's a movie that stretches out every moment for more than it's worth, until even the moments of inspiration seem forced. Since the basic idea of the movie i…

[Permalink to quote \#50](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/50/ "Permalink to quote 50")
2. > But back to deus ex machina. This is a phrase you will want to study and master, not merely to amaze friends during long bus journeys but because it so perfect…

[Permalink to quote \#52](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/52/ "Permalink to quote 52")
3. > Attending this new version, I felt oddly as if I were watching a provincial stock company doing the best it could without the Broadway cast. I was reminded of …

[Permalink to quote \#49](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/49/ "Permalink to quote 49")

## Related quotes

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[Roger Ebert](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert)[Roger Ebert quote \#50](https://quotesby.net/Roger-Ebert/50/ "Permalink to quote 50")
2. > I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach.

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3. > Caligula is sickening, utterly worthless, shameful trash. If it is not the worst film I have ever seen, that makes it all the more shameful: People with talent…

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