As a woman who has spent a considerable amount of time in the film industry, I can empathize with Zoë Kravitz’s predicament when it comes to the original title of her movie, “P*ssy Island.” The challenges she faced from studio executives, theater chains, and even early viewers were not uncommon for a project that dared to push boundaries.
In her first stint as a director, Zoe Kravitz initially gave a different title to her darkly comical yet unsettling thriller, which portrays a tech mogul enjoying opulence on a secluded island, where appearances can be deceiving. The eventual title chosen for the movie was Blink Twice, but she had originally come up with an entirely different name for her directorial debut.
This psychological thriller centers around Frida, a waitress with dreams of living among the wealthy, who happens to be an aspiring nail technician. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum) at an event. He invites her and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) to his exclusive island, where they indulge in lavish parties with his high-society companions, fulfilling Frida’s long-held dreams.
After receiving constructive criticism for my actions and feeling the need for a fresh start, I decided to purchase a secluded island with all the luxuries one could imagine – opulent accommodations, complimentary wardrobe, extravagant meals, and an endless supply of drinks by the pool. However, Frida, being quite observant, didn’t raise an eyebrow initially at some of the peculiarities around the island. It wasn’t until the unusual behavior became too glaring to ignore that I realized change was necessary.
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Blink Twice’s Original Title Was P*ssy Island
Initially titled “P*ssy Island,” Kravitz’s working title for her project subtly foreshadowed a major plot twist. In 2017, she began writing the screenplay under this title. Later, in 2021, Kravitz decided to direct the film herself and completed the script with E.T. Feigenbaum, a collaborator from the series “High Fidelity.” By 2022, production on the thriller commenced in Yucatán and Mexico with Kravitz and her team.
Eight months prior to the movie’s premiere, Kravitz opted to rename it Blink Twice. Up until January 2024, she held firm on her choice for the film’s title, finding it both intriguing and challenging. She saw it as a symbol of the storyline and a commentary on an era where men would consider naming a piece of land in such a manner, which we found hard to fathom.
Studio & Early Viewer Backlash Caused Doubt
Kravitz insisted on titling the movie “P*ssy Island,” aiming to reclaim a term frequently used in disrespectful or overtly sexual contexts. Nevertheless, Kravitz encountered criticism from studio officials and initial viewers of the film regarding his choice of words.
Kravitz expressed doubts about whether the title was still appropriate, given that it caused difficulties like studios being reluctant to display the word “pussy” on promotional materials and big movie theaters hesitant to print it on tickets.
Apart from the challenges posed by cinemas and production houses, Kravitz found out that several women felt uneasy about the film’s title. Some initial female viewers expressed their reluctance to watch a movie with such a title. This decisive feedback ultimately led her to reconsider the title, as she aimed for the audience to enjoy the film and be enticed to do so.
How the Original Title Connects to Blink Twice
The title “P*ssy Island” hints at the sinister activities taking place on this remote island by Slater and his companions. Despite his claims of seeking penance and transformation, Slater covertly fulfills his most unscrupulous desires without the scrutiny of the public gaze. In reality, Slater is a misogynistic playboy who advocates that there’s no such thing as redemption; instead, one should simply move on.
Due to his strong conviction that trauma can be overcome by forgetting it, he finds himself drawn to enacting his darkest desires under the assumption that his victims won’t recall anything in the morning. By crafting a unique island-specific perfume intended to erase memories, Slater and his companions spend their nights cruelly exploiting and abusing women they had brought there.
Each evening, under the influence of a flower that induces profound amnesia, I find myself drawn into a vicious cycle of abuse, orchestrated by Slater and his cohorts. This mysterious bloom, combined with an excessive intake of drugs and alcohol, enables these men to erase their transgressions every dawn, leaving Frida and other women vulnerable once more.
As my buddy Jess gets bitten by a dangerous snake that creepy guy Slater seems determined to let the island staff eliminate, I find out that the venom can neutralize the impact of a specific flower. With this newfound knowledge, I manage to persuade Sarah (Adria Arjorna) to ingest the venom and encourage other women on the island to do the same. As they begin to recall the harrowing details of the men’s abusive actions, the story spirals into complete pandemonium.
The shocking truth behind Slater and the other men’s motive for visiting the island echoes the initial concept of “P*ssy Island.” This implies that, like the others, Slater believes he has the right to these women and justifies his reprehensible behavior by claiming they will forget the horrors the following day. In the movie, these men treat the women as tools for fulfilling their violent desires and sexual fantasies. Even though the title is less explicit, “Blink Twice” effectively conveys the theme with a touch of enigma surrounding the chaos that unfolds in the story.
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Blink Twice
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2024-08-31 01:01