Blink Twice

Add Zoë Kravitz and Blink Twice to the budding list of 2024’s impressive directorial debuts, though it may well turn out to be one of its most controversial. Nearly flawlessly blending psychological thrills, mystery, and dark comedy, Blink Twice dares to peek under the covers of wealthy and influential men to expose the horrors that lie within. And while, conceptually, it is not significantly different than other films like it, Kravitz’s first feature shines with a whirling blend of technical precision and courageous storytelling.

The story begins with a struggling cocktail waitress, Frida (BAFTA-Award-winning Naomi Ackie), and her coworker/roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat), working at the fundraising gala of tech CEO Slater King (Channing Tatum). When Frida and King inadvertently meet, he offers to take her and Jess to his private island for an exclusive vacation, along with several of his rich male friends and their female guests. King is a notorious playboy supposedly on the mend from his troublesome behavior after an undisclosed controversy—which does not seem to matter to Frida, who wants a taste of the good life.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The pacing of Blink Twice’s opening act is swift and straightforward and becomes far more methodical when the merry cast of characters arrives at the island. It is a correctly calculated move, transitioning from Frida’s uncertain and chaotic life on the outside to a leisurely, hedonistic voyage in paradise. Kravitz and co-writer E.T. Feigenbaum introduce some intriguing pieces of the mystery here, some less transparent than others. When the all-expenses-paid self-indulgence begins, the editing becomes appropriately frenetic, and the suspense increases tenfold.

The initial portion of Blink Twice is the film’s most mentally stimulating, with Kravitz setting up the story’s puzzle with finesse. Frida’s desire for a better life and her tenacity are convincing, and the other characters show up to play in an increasingly entertaining fashion. Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, and Levon Hawke (featuring a fun cameo from Kyle MacLachlan) bring their sleazy and unsympathetic ‘alpha’ males to life with gleeful abandon, each possessing unique traits that the actors elevate. And, of course, Tatum portrays a cool-headed but devious elite with ease, consistently being the most entrancing person on the screen.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

As for the women, Adria Arjona, Liz Caribel, Trew Mullen, and a slightly silly Geena Davis—playing King’s assistant, I think—melt into the island’s luxurious glamour and look stunning doing it in suspiciously matching, ethereal dresses. Ackie and Arjona provide the strongest performances, though everybody gets their chance in the spotlight, and Caribel and Mullen are particularly funny. Their evolutions, however, save for Frida’s, are a little plain and underwhelming, but the protagonist receives a delectably satisfying ending.

The film’s second half ventures into uncomfortable and, at times, downright monstrous and brutal territory, which should probably come with a trigger warning in this day and age. Therefore, the lack of forewarning accentuates Kravitz’s bravery in showcasing the subject matter she does in such a direct manner, especially as a female filmmaker commenting on the manipulative evils of prosperous men. Sure, you can see the ‘twist’—if you want to call it that—coming, but it is still effective in how it unfolds and ultimately spirals into immorality and darkness.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Blink Twice is no perfect thriller, suffering from the occasional misplaced attempt at comedy and an arguably derivative, grounded look at familiar themes. Regardless, it works at generating a compelling mystery that comes together coherently, delivering characters you can effortlessly root for and against and spinning it all together within an expertly edited web; the sound design is particularly noteworthy, and the visuals are evocative of a Saltburn-esque experience at an isolated island, filled with dreamy, wealthy elegance and rich landscaping.

Blink Twice will likely fly under the radar. Still, it is a tight and occasionally chuckle-worthy thriller that showcases the willpower of women and the cruelty of men in a refreshing way, leading to an enjoyable, tense, and, at times, disturbing debut project.

Blink Twice is now playing in theaters nationwide.

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