Blink Twice review.
Zoë Kravitz’s inspired direction elevates every aspect of Blink Twice. An exciting new voice has entered the chat.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Blink Twice
Directed by Zoë Kravitz
Written by Zoë Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum
Starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan and Haley Joel Osment
Blink Twice Review
Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut is a big win that borders on a “kick down the door” moment. Kravitz creates an energetic, surprising and stylish world inevitably full of exactly what you think it is. The ability to infuse so much excitement into a story that goes exactly where you expect it to make Kravitz a director to watch going forward. The story ending up somewhat predictable isn’t a negative, by the way. Blink Twice should only go in one direction. It may not always get there in the most elegant way possible…but Kravitz’s directorial instincts present the known in a unique and unforgettable way.
Frida (Naomi Ackie) stumbles into a dream come true when she catches the attention of billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). She scores invites to his private island for her and best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat). Days and nights spent partying and living a carefree life. Sure, there is some unexplained dirt under her fingernails, and no one can remember what day it is…but other than that it’s paradise.
You may have seen Blink Twice given the label “Get Out for women”. It’s a fair assessment in more ways than just subject matter. Like that Jordan Peele classic, Blink Twice can be viciously funny in the bleakest ways. The comedy aspect is a surprising wrinkle that ramps up as the situation becomes more desperate. Of course, the plot is what people are mostly talking about when they call it that. It’s true…Slater King’s island isn’t what it appears to be at first glance. The movie has a unique way of hiding things from its characters…and by extension, its viewers. That MacGuffin is the biggest swing the movie makes. It’s…fine in a narrative sense. The logistics involved don’t hold up to any scrutiny…but the story requires a trick to work its magic.
The island is full of people. Vic (Christian Slater), Cody (Simon Rex) and Tom (Haley Joel Osment) are among King’s guy friends who have a residency there. Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel) and Heather (Trew Mullen) join Frida and Jess as the female guests. Geena Davis and Kyle MacLaclan appear as King’s assistant and therapist respectively. It’s also full of worker who appear to be indigenous to the island. They spend much of the movie trying to contend with a snake infestation when they aren’t filling bottomless glasses of champagne.
Blink Twice spends a lot of time partying with this crew. Some strange moments point to something bigger going on…but they are almost immediately forgotten. That is until Jess disappears. Frida tries to ask around about it…but no one even knows who she is talking about. It’s a turning point in the story that changes everything. Blink Twice was always going to be a movie about exactly what you think it’s about. The way Kravitz (who co-wrote the script with E.T. Feigenbaum) presents it is what’s so exciting. Blink Twice is often an exhilarating viewing experience. It has style to burn. There is so much energy in those early chapters that it can border on intoxicating.
When the turn comes…Blink Twice ramps up everything. It’s funnier, bloodier, wilder than it was before. Some things you didn’t even consider as clues to what’s ben going on reveal themselves as clever world building. The third act of Blink Twice feels like a completely different movie than its first act. It isn’t…we’re just seeing the full picture. Complete with a violent turn of the tables. It’s an exciting movie that gives you what you expect in surprising and explosive ways.
The problem comes back to that big swing. Every aspect of it is…silly. How it works, how it’s combated…they could have had an entire movie explaining the science behind it and you’d still be shaking your head. The concept here isn’t the point, of course. It’s a necessary bridge to the story that Kravitz wants to tell. She tells it so well that the movie almost gets away with it. That should be taken as a high compliment.
Deep down you know what’s going on in Blink Twice. You probably deduced it the first time you watched the trailer. The how of it is, to be kind, messy. The purpose of it is to deliver a fresh and entertaining experience. Kravitz does that with confidence and style. Despite strong performances from Ackie, Arjona, Tatum and the supporting cast…Kravitz is the talent you’ll be thinking about after watching Blink Twice.
Scare Value
The MacGuffin in the middle of the story is played too loose to be fully effective. It keeps Blink Twice from reaching its true potential. That said, the movie is a blast to watch. It’s surprisingly funny, gorgeously shot, and packs a real punch when it wants to. There’s a top-notch dark thriller here that is both dark and thrilling. It’s one heck of a directorial debut for Kravitz.
3.5/5
Blink Twice Link
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