Robert Pattinson is one of the most admired and beloved actors of our time. His films have grossed over $4 billion at the box office, and his recent starring role in the Dark Shadows film was one of the highest-grossing of all time. The actor currently stars in the new film, Twigs, and the audience had the chance to see a completely different side of him in a role that would showcase his comedic talent.
The film follows Twigs (Pattinson), a young woman who becomes obsessed with a painting of an old woman. When her family moves into an old house and she begins experiencing paranormal phenomena, she decides to investigate the source of the haunting. She enlists the help of a professional medium (Margot Robbie), who encourages her to confront her deepest fears as she investigates the supposed supernatural occurrences.
The Good
Pattinson was born in London, England, where he still lives with his family. He attended the University of Westminster, where he earned a degree in architecture. He also has honorary degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Edinburgh University. He is an active member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and has designed many of his family’s homes.
Aside from being an accomplished architect, the actor has proved that he can be quite the versatile comedic talent. He is known for his roles in several major Hollywood productions, such as Pride and Prejudice, Water For Elephants (comic book adaptation), and the upcoming Dunkirk. His acting debut was in the British TV series Casualty, for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Newcomer. He has also been nominated for an Emmy Award, an Satellite Award, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. In addition, his film Water for Elephants was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. We couldn’t talk about Pattinson without mentioning his impressive list of professional accomplishments.
The Bad
While acknowledging his good qualities, it is important to point out that Pattinson has had some pretty awful years as well. First, there were the legal woes that he faced after a fake photo of him circulated online. Then, there was the whole cheating scandal that cost him his marriage. But the worst was yet to come when the Twilight saga made him a target of online stalkers and death threats (for which he was never prosecuted). In the final installment of the sci-fi/fantasy series, Breaking Dawn, the actors were required to go undercover and play characters who were opposite genders. This required them to wear wigs and women’s clothing, which they have since admitted was an excruciating experience.
Unfortunately, Twigs marks another in a long line of poor choices for the actor. The film is an adaptation of the French graphic novel, La Bonne Boucherie, by Chloé Delaume. The plot involves transgenderism, which is a topic that often sparks protests and social media campaigns. There is also a scene where one of the leads dresses up as a woman for Halloween. If this isn’t something that will upset you, then perhaps it’s time to reconsider your interest in this type of movie.
Overall Impressions
Overall, we can say that Twigs is probably the weakest link in Pattinson’s impressive cinematic resume. The film is filled with clichés, a predictable storyline, and unbelievable CGI effects. The one thing that salvages the film are the actors, who do a much better job than the material would have you believe.
As for the content of the script, it could have used some polishing. The plot is fairly standard, and it feels like a rehash of some of the themes and narrative devices that we’ve seen before in other thrillers of this nature. For example, the use of the word paranormal is so overused that it loses its meaning entirely. But beyond that, there isn’t much here that hasn’t been seen before in another film. On that note, if you’re looking for a new thriller to watch, then you might want to consider another option.