Summary
- Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut delivers a wild (and wildly uneven) ride of dark truths and eerie tricks on a private island getaway.
- Channing Tatum’s performance and the way Kravitz films him mesmerizes while the ensemble cast is brimming with brilliance.
- Blink Twice
ultimately runs out of steam and makes some odd decisions that seem incongruous with the rules it establishes, but it’s still a lavish, clever film.
As a seasoned film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that “Blink Twice” has left me quite intrigued, if not a tad perplexed at times. The movie feels like a modern-day twist on Ari Aster’s “Midsommar,” and it’s refreshing to see such an original take on the genre.
“Watch out, especially when you’re enjoying yourself. If a wealthy tech magnate unexpectedly invites you to his secluded island paradise with your friend tagging along for reassurance, it might be wise to pause and consider — Consider Twice. This theme may resonate with you from movie plots of the past. However, in her debut as a film director and writer (collaborating with E.T. Feigenbaum from the series ‘High Fidelity’), the talented actress Zoë Kravitz reinvents these classic elements to create something vivid and surreal.”
It’s advantageous that Kravitz can rely on a highly skilled ensemble for her film Blink Twice, although she herself is not part of the acting group in this production. She demonstrates potential as a director with this project, however. Interestingly, her real-life partner, Channing Tatum, does appear in the movie, taking on an intriguing character named Slater during a break from his current big-screen roles. Another Slater, Christian Slater, is also present, portraying a wealthy friend in a story that transports us to a lavish retreat and has a few unsettling surprises hidden within.
Watching Tatum delve into deep, dark realms might be intriguing enough to draw audiences this weekend, despite the fact that Blink Twice‘s twists veer off course in its excessive second and third acts. At the very least, Kravitz’s directorial debut is bound to spark discussions, showcasing her unique visual style.
Channing Tatum’s Flirty and Dirty Vacation
In the movie, Naomi Ackie portrays Frida, a character who requires help and is humorously referred to as needing to signal danger by blinking twice, a jest made by Rich, Slater’s therapist played by Kyle MacLachlan (from Fallout). The first time they meet is at Slater’s gala event where Frida works as a caterer in the initial scenes of the film. Ackie previously displayed a similar captivating charisma as Whitney Houston in the movie ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, but her performance here stands out more prominently due to Kravitz’s assured direction and the well-written script penned by E.T. Feigenbaum.
Due to the persuasion of roommate and co-caterer friend Jess (famous for her roles in Search Party and Arrested Development, played by Alia Shawkat), the duo embarks on a jet-setting adventure to a private island. This is surprising, considering Frida was only serving at the gala among Slater and his wealthy companions. However, it seems that Slater’s captivating gaze couldn’t ignore her anymore, so he now invites her to take a vacation with him and his vibrant group of friends.
Beyond MacLachlan’s pal Vic, played by Christian Slater, I also find Cody, Simon Rex’s posh culinary companion from Red Rocket, on board. There’s Tom, Haley Joel Osment, living it up to the fullest. Then there’s Stacy, portrayed by Geena Davis, dealing with her fair share of anxiety in this group. Plus, there are other intriguing characters, such as Sarah (Adria Arjona from Hit Man), who adds a bit of rivalry to the mix as she sees the newcomers, including Frida and Jess, as a challenge to see who can most impress the billionaire Slater. She seems to think we’re all in competition for his attention.
Instead, we can say:
Forgive but Don’t Forget This Bleak and Topical Satire
However, much like the Blink Twice promotional campaign implies, Frida and Jess’ journey takes a turn reminiscent of Ari Aster’s Midsommar as their trip seems to have no end date. As time goes by, the staff on-site become increasingly strange in their behavior. The film is enriched with dark humor that satirizes the obnoxiously wealthy guests on the island and their elitist, party-centric demeanor, with characters like Tom and his endless supply of party tunes standing out, particularly those who wear heart-shaped sunglasses.
I adore those sunglasses. Various entertaining elements and motifs scattered throughout the narrative also play crucial thematic roles, with Jess’ lighter that gets shared among everyone serving as a subtle tool to reveal shocking truths as the story progresses towards its second and third acts.
Blink Twice & Stop Making Sense
Regrettably, the latter part of the tale stumbles slightly because the plot structure appears somewhat manipulated and inconsistent, shifting rules in a way that seems convenient for the narrative. This is reminiscent of the criticisms about illogical inconsistencies in the world-building of the movie “A Quiet Place.” You might find yourself puzzled over how the villain(s) managed to perform certain feats but were unable to execute others.
In my opinion, while these minor aspects might seem insignificant in the larger picture, they take a backseat to the electrifying performances delivered by Tatum, Ackie, Shawkat, and Arjona that dominate this rollercoaster ride of a movie. The comedic relief provided by the consistently hilarious Rex adds fuel to the fire of the dark comedy.
From Amazon MGM Studios, Blink Twice will be released on Aug. 23 only in theaters.
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2024-08-22 16:01