You won't look away from Blink Twice

Theatrical Movie Review - Thriller

There is something special about a thriller that builds tension over a long period of time and then unleashes all of that tension in one massive scene at the end. An excellent example of that kind of film is Karyn Kusama’s 2015 film The Invitation. It teases something horrible for the entire movie and then rewards your patience with that something awful when you’re tired of waiting. That same vibe is present in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, Blink Twice.

Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) are servers at the annual gala hosted by tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). When they ditch their uniforms in favor of elegant ballgowns, Frida catches Slater’s eye, and he invites the two of them to join him and his friends on a tropical island. They agree and are treated to an incredible time where the champagne flows freely, and they can spend days lounging by the pool and nights eating gourmet meals. But as the days begin to blur together, Frida begins to notice that something seems off with Slater and his friends.

Kravitz comes out of the gate swinging with this film. Her directing is slick and does an excellent job of creating these memory gaps without obscuring the overall story. This is a movie that has the potential to get lost in the weeds, and Kravitz manages to keep it on track and moving at a pace that makes the hundred minutes move by quickly.

The performances in this are strong across the board. The ensemble is great, giving us a sense of the manic party taking place that always feels just unhinged enough to make us wonder when the shoe-dropping will start. Shawkat and Adria Arjona, who plays another woman on the island, both act as excellent friends to Ackie, feeling fully developed while also developing Frida as a character. Ackie delivers a fantastic performance, revealing her trauma slowly and with great depth. And Tatum gives a career-best performance, particularly in the third act. 

The story is fun and snappy while also diving into some deeper themes about how we choose to deal with trauma. A few plot holes can’t be written off with the plot device used in this movie, but nothing so glaring that it detracts from the overarching storyline. Humor is present throughout, sometimes with laugh-out-loud moments, while never undercutting some of the more serious ideas that the film is trying to convey. This film will no doubt remind you of other movies, but it never felt like it was just a straight copy, with enough elements to keep it fresh and exciting.

It’s always fun to go into a movie when you don’t know what’s going to happen, and that is especially true of this one. You’re going to go into this and have a good time, but like the guests at the private island, a blood-drenched finale is coming. And that’s what makes Blink Twice a lot of fun.

@alisechaffinsMovie review for Zoë Kravitz's directorial debuted BLINK TWICE. #moviereview #filmtok #foryou #blinktwice #zoekravitz #channingtatum #aliashawkat #thriller

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This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on August 25, 2024.