Bringing a blend of psychological thrillers Get Out and Don’t Worry Darling, Blink Twice marks the directorial debut of The Batman actress Zöe Kravitz. Starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum and Adria Arjona, it follows nail artist and cocktail waitress Frida (Ackie), who is invited with her best friend Jess (Alia Shakwat) by recently disgraced entrepreneur Slater King (Tatum) to holiday on his island. Not before long, Frida begins to suspect something is wrong with their supposed paradise.
At first glance, Frida looks like she is crushing on a hot billionaire, awkwardly strutting her stuff in a sultry red dress around a black and white cocktail party to capture Slater King’s attention. She achieves her goal when he invites her to his private island, where she and Jess spend time by the pool, getting endless glasses of champagne and enjoying drug-fuelled evenings. Frida indulges in King’s attention as he is seemingly interested in spending time with her despite competition from reality TV star Sarah (Arjona). But behind the glamour of Frida’s circumstances, Kravitz and co-screenwriter E.T. Feigenbaum do not hide the incredulity of the situation: a bunch of girls invited to an island with no access to transport, medical aid or phones – courtesy of King’s PA Stacy (Geena Davis) – by a guy whom they met only a few hours ago.
This is only a hint of Blink Twice‘s #MeToo-inspired narrative, which will surely provoke discomfort as powerful men with money perform horrifying actions without remorse. In addition, the female characters are represented as somewhat shallow and vain, easily swayed by the glamorous and carefree lifestyle of a millionaire with alcohol, drugs and sunshine. This bold approach may feel like a creative gamble as it revisits a precarious time in society, as well as a harrowing experience for many victims. Thankfully, Kravitz and Feigenbaum don’t overly dwell on these elements by amping the tension among various hints and developing the newfound camaraderie between Frida and Sarah. Their friendship results in an empowering and cathartic twist, which sees them take action in the slightly rushed third act with Beyonce’s I’m That Girl setting the tone.
Following on from her lead role in the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Naomi Ackie brings a wide-eyed awareness as heroine Frida. She brings a semblance of normality through her overwhelming circumstances, offering excitement, incredulity and horror through her facial and physical expressions. Meanwhile, Tatum pulls out the stops to establish himself in a dramatic role that keeps his clothes on. As King, he exudes a sense of charm but an unexpected shouting fake-out betrays his brutal character. Not only does this show what Tatum can do in a role out of his comfort zone but displays Kravitz’s faith in him as a serious actor.
Following on from her star-making turn in Hit Man, Arjona is the quiet badass who is underestimated by her looks. She brings light comedic moments and an endearing chemistry with Ackie, as their characters bond over their respective circumstances. While Shawkat is underused as Jess, the combined star power of Ackie and Arjona make some of Blink Twice‘s best scenes, whether it is downing venomous tequila shots or even an impromptu dinner dance where a fleeting moment of hand-holding solidifies their shared resolve amid the growing chaos.
Behind the camera, Kravitz cleverly delivers stark visuals reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick and Dario Argento, who are renowned for their psychological and horror cinema, respectively. The stylish use of bold colours, the eclectic mix of female characters – most of whom are symbolically dressed in white – and stark architectural angles build the picture of an unsettling environment befitting of the tense narrative. There is also care to darken the visuals through ambient lighting and charged score to deepen the sense of suspicion, leading to Blink Twice‘s divisive ending – calling into question whether the build-up was executed effectively.
Kravitz’s debut doesn’t shy away from the horror of its narrative but challenges the audience’s perception of its characters and settings. Establishing her as a promising director, Blink Twice is a bold feat of filmmaking.
Blink Twice is in UK cinemas now.
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Director: Zöe Kravitz, E.T. Feigenbaum (co-screenwriter)
Stars: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Adria Arjona, Alia Shakwat, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Geena Davis, Haley Joel Osment,
Runtime: 102 minutes
Country: USA
