Distorted (2018)

Distorted taps into a very modern, very primal fear: that the walls around you aren’t protecting you, they’re listening—and maybe nudging you. Christina Ricci anchors the film with a fierce, vulnerable performance that keeps you guessing about what’s real and what’s being written off as “paranoia,” while John Cusack brings a sly, lived-in edge that suits the story’s scrappy, cult-thriller energy. The vibe is retro techno-paranoia with a pulsing sense of unease, the kind of movie that makes everyday devices feel a little less innocent without leaning on cheap jump scares. It’s not for viewers who want pristine, big-budget action or a gentle watch (there are some disturbing flashes and R-rated intensity), but if you like contained mysteries with a conspiratorial bite, this one is an easy recommendation.

Distorted wants to be a slick, modern paranoia thriller about smart-home surveillance and the nightmare of not being believed, and that’s a solid idea with a couple of creepy tech touches. The problem is the execution: it often feels disjointed and oddly flat, with “seen-this-before” twists and underpowered suspense that rarely builds into the kind of tension the premise promises. If you’re hoping for a sharp, escalating mystery or genuinely pulse-raising thrills, this may play more like routine TV thriller material stretched to feature length. Still, Christina Ricci brings a committed, anxious edge that keeps it watchable in patches, and if you’re in the mood for an easy, mildly unsettling conspiracy yarn rather than a knockout thriller, you might get by.