As a seasoned moviegoer and a connoisseur of dark, twisted tales, I must say that “Blink Twice” is a cinematic masterpiece that left me absolutely spellbound. Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut is a chilling exploration of power, manipulation, and the horrifying truth that sometimes paradise isn’t all it seems.
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Blink Twice,” in theaters now.
In Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, paradise is not quite what it seems.
In the opening scenes of “Blink Twice,” roommates and part-time cocktail servers Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) are employed at a social gathering hosted by Slater King, an affable, good-looking tech mogul who is also a billionaire, portrayed by Channing Tatum.
Frida develops a crush on Slater, and eventually manages to include herself and Jess in a trip to his secluded island for vacation. Lately, Slater has been keeping a low profile following an interview where he expresses regret for past indiscretions. He promises to change, but Frida appears unfazed. Instead, she becomes absorbed in her creative hobby – designing intricate nail art based on animals.
On a secluded tropical paradise, I find myself alongside Frida and Jess, along with a few other scantily-clad women, as well as Slater’s close associates – his sister Stacy (played by Geena Davis), who doubles up as his personal assistant. Upon arrival, we all hand over our mobile devices, marking the start of an indulgent getaway. Each day unfolds with champagne toasts, lounging by the pool, savoring gourmet meals, and experimenting with psychedelic substances. It appears that the only potential danger lurking on this idyllic island are the venomous snakes camouflaged within the lush grass.
Before long, Frida begins observing peculiar occurrences – she finds soil accumulated beneath her nails, while a mark on her dress inexplicably vanishes. The lines between days become blurred, and this idyllic paradise transforms into a horror when Jess gets bitten by one of the serpents. Slater and the others reassure Jess that she won’t meet her end, allowing the festivities to carry on as she recovers.
The following day, Jess becomes uneasy and tells Frida that the trip doesn’t appear as it seems. However, Frida dismisses her worries, as she has attracted Slater’s attention, which is unusual given the rules they are expected to follow as cocktail waitresses. For a change, it feels good not to be unnoticed.
As I traverse the opulent abodes scattered across this tropical isle, I find myself frequently crossing paths with a woman who seems to have a peculiar duty – eliminating the unwanted serpents. Each time our paths cross, she lets out an odd cry of “Red rabbit!” Now, in one particular scene, she extends a glass brimming with a strange green elixir my way. I take a tentative sip, only to recoil in disgust as I realize it’s none other than the venom from those very snakes.
Shortly after, Frida experiences a chilling revelation: Where is Jess? She hasn’t spotted her friend since post the snakebite incident, and it seems as if the other girls on the island don’t even remember she was ever there initially. Hidden memories resurface. The pieces fall into place: Every night, the women consume drugs provided by Slater and his group and are observed running through the grass with their gowns fluttering behind them. Each morning, they awaken without any recollection of the previous night’s events. The snake venom counteracts the amnesia-inducing effects of the drugs, allowing fragments of unspeakable terrors to seep into Frida’s consciousness: Under the influence of these drugs, the women (and it appears, a young man as well) are subjected to repeated assaults and rapes. Unaware of these traumatic events, they continue their vacations alongside their attackers. In one recollection, the men murder Jess — who will soon reveal the truth through her snakebite — before the eyes of the women.
Frida shares her new findings with Sarah, an island dweller who’s appeared on survival shows and portrayed by Adria Arjona. Despite not recalling Jess, Sarah trusts Frida enough to consume the bitter venom. They devise a plan to inform other island women: mix the green venom with tequila, serve it at the poolside in shot glasses. The ladies are aware that if they survive, their tales might not be taken seriously. “It’s insane to board a plane with strange men,” Sarah predicts, hinting at the potential objections they may face.
As I lounged by the pool, even strict and frenzied Stacy, who’s typically scouring the place for trivial chores, downs some bitter shots laced with memories. These recollections rise within her, sparking anger in the other women, but Stacy lashes out at Frida instead. “I didn’t want to remember,” she admits. Indeed, she is aware of the wrongdoings. She assists in their perpetration. If Slater represents Kravitz’s portrayal of Jeffrey Epstein, Stacy embodies her Ghislaine Maxwell.
I successfully eliminate Stacy and make my escape, as the men are out on an excursion. Seizing the opportunity, I sneak into Slater’s residence to grab his phones. However, what I discover instead is a collection of Polaroids; each one capturing the women who have been brought to this island.
Over dinner, Frida and Sarah pass the time while they anticipate the effects of the venom on the other women. Once their suppressed memories resurface, these women launch an offensive, battling their attackers to the rhythm of Beyoncé’s empowering song “I’m That Girl.” The ensuing scene is a gruesome bloodbath, and as this transpires, Frida experiences a chilling revelation: This isn’t her first visit to the island. Long ago, Frida was brutally attacked by Slater and left bleeding on the ground with dirt embedded under her fingernails. Her nails bear the mark of tiny rabbits, painted red.
In the chaos of the fight, it’s only Frida, Sarah, and Slater left standing. Despite appearing to enjoy the devastation, Slater found himself at a disadvantage as Frida and Sarah took control and set fire to his mansion. However, contrary to what appears in the final scene of the movie, they didn’t kill Slater. Instead, Frida had laced his vape with psychedelic substances, planning to use the authorities’ intervention for her ultimate revenge.
At a function reminiscent of the opening soiree, it’s not Slater who takes center stage, but Frida. In an unexpected turn of events, she stands as CEO of his tech empire, having him by her side and even marrying him. The ending carries a mix of triumph and unease, as Frida embodies the motto she and Jess discussed at the film’s start: “Success is the sweetest form of retribution.”
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2024-08-24 01:18