Blink Twice

This review may contain spoilers!

 

Blink Twice is a psychological thriller directed by Zoë Kravitz in her directorial debut. In this feature a waitress, Frida, gets noticed by tech billionaire, Slater King at a function she is working at. After a sudden invitation to go to Slater's private island, Frida and her best friend, Jess, find themselves in a world unlike anything they've ever known. However, a life of luxury can't hide the darker secrets that exist on this island forever...

 

I really just tumbled into the story of this film, it is so inviting at first. The sheer opulence we slowly stumble into after seeing the dilapidated work and accommodation of Frida is a marvel. The island Slater owns feels unreal, it is a fantasy of the highest order. Everything is available, and there is a cornucopia of abundance laid out before our cast of characters. Yet, Kravitz's film does a great job of making us feel unsettled steadily, from bizarre housekeepers, to the snakes littering the island, right down to the gift bag room. I love that this movie really works to keep you guessing, you wonder if what is going on at the island is even supernatural at times, it can be tough to pin down exactly where the threat is coming from. I also adored the character of Slater King as an antagonist. The Jeffrey Epstein island parallel is easy enough to grasp, but I also really found something in his fragile fake apologies and pleading. This is the sort of male celebrity persona who tries to dominate others with no remorse and is more scared of losing their lifestyle than their own decency, it made for a compelling adversary. The film steadily ramps up a bit throughout, the final act has this incredible act of both solidarity, cunning and retaliation that I found satisfying as an audience member. Blink Twice builds some interesting twists and a tense atmosphere, while holding you in the clutches of a quite colourful and eclectic cast of characters.

 

Kravitz has set out to make something really visually amazing here. The shots are these expansive wides that will leave you stunned, the whole film feels like it captures the splendour of wealth very well. I also loved the gentle pans and tracking shots that added fuel to the tension of a horrific reveal. The editing is sharp and moves at a deliberate pace, setting something steady or frantic depending on the moment. The score is seriously chilling and will have you on edge, I also couldn't get enough of the soundtrack. The soundtrack had some grooving tracks that added to the party atmosphere of the island.

 

Naomi Ackie, who played Frida, is a wonderful protagonist who certainly gives Tatum a run for his money; Ackie's way of portraying fear while simultaneously trying to hide is an arresting performance to watch. Alia Shawkat, who played Jess, is such a fun-spirited best friend persona to pair against Ackie; seeing Shawkat steadily become the one easing out of the fun and frivolities was a very compelling point of the film. Christian Slater, who played Vic, felt like he was made for this film; Slater's unsettling and controlling demeanour worked well for the corporate CFO type. Adria Arjona, who played Sarah, feels like a celebrity powerhouse in the first half of the film; Arjona goes on to be the classic kick-ass horror flick heroine by film end. Trew Mullen, who played Heather, is absolutely hilarious as the film's primary stoner role; Mullen really is the heart of a lot of the party scenes, and she sets the energy levels constantly. Geena Davis, who played Stacy, has found herself a really quirky and comedic role in this; Davis is a lot of fun as Tatum's eccentric assistant/manager. Kyle MacLachlan, who played Rich, might not be in this film very much but is a scene stealer for what little he has; MacLachlan breezes through scenes with a significant amount of charismatic presence.

 

However, the best performance came from Channing Tatum, who played Slater. When first he appears on the screen, we see Tatum delivering something very familiar to us: a celebrity apology. Slater King is a man reformed, once a celebrity who took things too far, now he has found therapy and seclusion and is healing as a man. Indeed, when he first appears to Ackie's Frida, this seems a very chivalrous individual; he's courteous and larger than life. Tatum presents a man who knows how to work a room, holds a kind wit and invites you into his way of the world. On the island he continues to hold this easy chemistry with Ackie, they're drawn together and the way he works in with his inner circle is nice too. But there is a clear power structure here, and he holds it firmly, with others entirely subservient to Slater or fearful of him. There is something fragile in him that is already broken, the sharp pieces of that break is all we get to see, but it fuels a phenomenal third act breakdown. Tatum's reveal of just how insincere his character's apologies go is demented and my favourite scene of the whole thing. I miss seeing Channing Tatum in frequent leading roles, that just proves how much we need a comeback.

Blink Twice starts fast, and it wants to get moving at a rapid pace, we tread through introductions and the inciting incident so that we may get to the island very quickly. From that point we settle into a gentler rhythm that contrasts greatly with that rushed, if not exhilarating start. I also felt like this film struggles with perspective issues, this film is made by Zoë Kravitz, so it isn't always the most grounded affair. The poor vs. rich themes in the first two acts are somewhat shallow, and the way the wealthier characters talk are very particular and far removed from what an audience would realistically relate to. The tilt in theme between the second and third acts was really sudden. Blink Twice feels like a division of poor and rich sort of film for a significant portion of the runtime. However, the move to it being about the abuse of women and men wielding power irresponsibly felt quite sudden. The theme itself is excellent and once the film works itself out this really lands, but until that point there is a real stark shift. The way characters talk no longer holds much subtlety in terms of theme, and it just feels like a bit of weight has been taken out of that tense tone at first. The final reveal/outcome of the film is very justified, but it is harsh, I wasn't sure the darker message at the end fit the otherwise empowering moment of escape. It was an end scene that jumped the shark and went a little over the top.

Simon Rex, who played Cody, was a bit of an oddball but never really made much of a mark on a scene; Rex always appears abruptly into a scene, but sadly you forget about him not long after arrival. Haley Joel Osment, who played Tom, feels like the odd man out at times; Osment is a bit of a side player who is here to seem aloof and like a comedic presence in the wider group. Liz Caribel, who played Camilla, is one of the core actresses who struggles to make an impression; Caribel's big turn into righteous anger feels a bit two-dimensional in the moment. Levon Hawke, who played Lucas, has a significant role that just seems to sit there and look pretty; Hawke doesn't lend himself to a scene and just seems more happy to be there than anything else. Cris Costa, who played Stan, is a very generic gruff security guard type; Costa's work as a stoic henchman doesn't result in a significantly interesting performance.

 

Zoë Kravitz has made one of the better thrillers of 2024 in what is an absolutely stunning directorial debut. I would give Blink Twice a 7.5/10.