REVIEW: “Blink Twice” (2024)

As a seasoned film critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must confess that “Blink Twice” left me rather bewildered and slightly disillusioned. Zoë Kravitz, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting backstage at the Oscars a few times, shows promise behind the camera but falls short in delivering a cohesive narrative.

In a new venture, Zoë Kravitz steps into directing her first feature film titled “Blink Twice”. Although it boasts some intriguing concepts, the movie seems to lack unique ideas that set it apart. Regrettably, what was meant to be a powerful exploration of gender dynamics and empowerment transforms into an empty and borderline exploitative endeavor, falling far short of the sharp and thought-provoking social commentary it aspires to be. It’s unfortunate because Kravitz demonstrates a clear skill behind the camera.

The film titled “Blink Twice” features Channing Tatum as Kravitz’s fiancé. He portrays Slater King, a former CEO of King-Tech who was dethroned due to unnamed improper behavior. Slater has since issued numerous public apologies, undergone therapy, and purchased his personal island for solitude and self-reflection. Well, we’ll see about that…

At a charity event backed by Slater King, Frida (played by Naomi Ackie), who’s both a designer nail artist and occasional waitress, finds herself serving tables. Accompanied by her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat), they secretly bring in two cocktail dresses and manage to slip into the gala as guests. During the event, Frida crosses paths with Slater, a handsome man, and the two instantly connect. This encounter leads Slater to invite Frida and Jess to join him and his elite circle on a trip to his exclusive island retreat. Naturally, they accept and are later flown off on a King-Tech private jet.

In the next moment, we find ourselves at Slater’s luxurious island mansion, where Frida and Jess are accompanied by friends Vic (played by Christian Slater), Cody (Simon Rex), Tom (Haley Joel Osment), and Lucas (Levon Hawke). Three other female guests, Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen) are also present. This seems like a perfect getaway, but it quickly becomes apparent that it’s too good to be true – a fact that our characters should have suspected as soon as Geena Davis appeared to take everyone’s cell phones.

Moving forward, determining time becomes challenging since Kravitz takes us on a whirlwind journey filled with one wild night of drinking and drug use after another. Simultaneously, the narrative (collaboratively penned by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum) struggles to maintain its overall mood. The film appears to relish in capturing the chaotic party scenes as much as the characters enjoy participating. It intermittently offers comedic moments and features catchy music selections. Yet, it also strives to create an uncomfortable atmosphere, particularly when Frida begins noticing peculiar occurrences she can’t quite comprehend.

The third part of the film becomes chaotic, losing all subtlety and transforming into a violent spectacle featuring overly aggressive female leads. However, this could have been enjoyable if not for the forceful messaging, some painfully obvious dialogue, and the fact that none of the characters, who are thinly developed, manage to engage us emotionally. Additionally, it introduces another shift in tone that detracts even more from the film’s intended themes.

2024-08-25 17:56

REVIEW: “Blink Twice” (2024)

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