NEWLY promoted homicide detective Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd) has ruffled a number of feathers to rise through the male-dominated ranks of the San Francisco Police Department.

She isn't afraid to speak her mind and has cultivated friendships in high places, including a close working relationship with her mentor, ageing police commissioner John Mills (Samuel L Jackson).

Jessica works hard and plays even harder, matching fellow officers beer for beer down the local bar, and she is rarely short of company of an evening.

For her first major assignment, Jessica becomes involved in the search for a serial killer in her district.

She quickly realises that she has slept with all of the victims, many of them one-night stands.

Police commissioner Mills comes under intense pressure to remove Jessica from the investigation; after all, she is a prime suspect for the slayings.

Jessica's partner Mike Delmarco (Andy Garcia) begins to act strangely around her, as if he too believes she could be capable of the heinous crimes.

With everyone pointing the finger at her, Jessica begins to think she might be the killer and not know it, killing her victims during one of the many alcohol-induced blackouts which leave her with no recollection of the previous night's activities.

As more evidence comes to light suggesting her involvement, Jessica seeks assurance from psychiatrist Dr Frank (David Strathairn).

Is she guilty or could someone be playing a very deadly game of cat and mouse, driving Jessica to the brink of self-destruction?

Twisted is standard thriller fare with a handful of cheap shocks and a final reel twist that is glaringly obvious once you abide by the golden rule: the least obvious suspect is always the killer.

Judd's ballsy heroine is deeply unlikable and unsympathetic, effectively engineering her own demise.

Garcia plays with the ambiguities of his character and generates a smouldering screen chemistry with Judd while Jackson does as little as possible in an underwritten supporting role.

Director Philip Kaufman and production designer Dennis Washington evoke a creepy vision of San Francisco, far removed from the sunny picture postcard images of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Rating 4/10