Blink Twice

by Mike McGranaghan

Zoë Kravitz has already established herself as a talented actress in blockbuster movies like The Batman and indie gems like Vincent N Roxxy. Now she shows an equal amount of talent behind the camera, making a stunning directorial debut with the thriller Blink Twice. Co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, the film is provocative and daring in all the right ways.

Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody) plays Frida, a cocktail waitress who feels “invisible.” After working at an event to honor tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), she and best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are invited to spend a few days at the resort on his personal island. Also present are his friends/colleagues/hangers-on Cody (Simon Rex), Tom (Haley Joel Osment), and Vic (Christian Slater), as well as several other female guests, including reality TV show contestant Sarah (Hit Man’s Adria Arjona).

Gourmet food is eaten, drugs are consumed, and a lot of time is spent lounging around the pool. Jess thinks it’s a little weird that identical outfits are provided for the women to wear, but Frida passes it off as “a rich thing.” Jess is onto something. Multiple inexplicable occurrences begin taking place, leading Frida to become suspicious of Slater.

Blink Twice is to gaslighting and sexual assault what Get Out is to racism. Without giving away any specifics, Frida, Jess, and the other women are subjected to the worst components of toxic masculinity and male entitlement. Like “the Sunken Place” in Jordan Peele’s horror hit, there’s a particular fantasy element incorporated to help make the point. Kravitz demonstrates a strong voice in speaking about how men can lull women into the trap of thinking they’re crazy or trying to force expectations onto them. There’s a reason Slater keeps asking, “Are you having a good time?”

The director’s voice is just as strong in envisioning the inherent power of unified women. During the last act, Frida and Sarah devise a plan to try to escape the island. It’s carried out with a delightful sense of deviousness, and it builds to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Perhaps the thing that’s most impressive about the movie is that it combines drama, thrills, and occasional bits of humor that entertain, yet the inherent meaning of the story is always front and center. Again, I’m reminded of Get Out in that sense. Kravitz knows how to achieve the correct balance.

Performances in the film are outstanding, with Tatum doing what may be the best dramatic work of his career as Slater King. He captures that outwardly charming manner that bad men often use to mask their misogyny. Geena Davis has a supporting role as Slater’s personal assistant, a ditz who seems to know all his secrets. What the actress does with her character is a high point in the picture. As the heroine, Ackie hits every note exactly right, conveying – at the appropriate times – denial, terror, anger, and vengeance. She does magnificent work, helping to drive the themes home in a forceful manner.

Blink Twice pulls no punches in its approach. This is a film with big thoughts on its mind. Using the thriller format to express those thoughts was smart. The suspense is heightened because it’s grounded in something very real, and the topical subject matter ensures that the genre suspense isn’t empty. Kravitz melds style and substance together in a way that’s uncommonly confident for a first-time director. I hope she continues to pursue a dual career.

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