Blink Twice

Zoë Kravitz offers an impressive debut with this stylish thriller

Naomi Ackie discovers what happens when you party with the rich and powerful in Zoë Kravitz's fantastic directorial debut, Blink Twice.

Sometimes, when something is too good to be true, it is.

For instance, when Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) are invited to the private island of billionaire tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum), it seems like a dream come true. Frida has long been obsessed with King and getting the opportunity to flirt with him on an all-expenses-paid tropical vacation appears ideal.

At first, it is a blast. There’s booze and drugs galore, lots of dancing and fun, and luxury outfits are provided. It’s a vacation straight from a magazine.

But when Jess goes missing and the other women seem to not remember her at all, Frida realizes her situation is swiftly becoming a nightmare.

I won’t be going into spoilers for this movie, but I do think it’s important to note that the movie begins with a trigger warning. Please take that information and make the right choice for you.

Slick, beautiful, and well-paced, Blink Twice is an impressive directorial debut from actress Zoë Kravitz. The film is an interesting exploration of how easily powerful men get away with atrocities and how hollow apologies from such men can be. Kravitz co-wrote the script, which smartly picks apart the large apparatuses of friends and staff that are dedicated to protecting such men. It’s a cutting look at power imbalances and “celebrity billionaire” culture.

But Kravitz is precise with her visual language as well as her script. Aided by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, the film features several tracking shots that are repeated throughout the film. While the trajectory of the shots is the same, the context (and what we see) changes. It’s a brilliant way of paralleling the perception of Slater King’s life with the reality of it. Kravitz also walks a fine line between outlining precisely what is happening on the island and not making the sequences seem sleazy or gratuitous. Though the content can be triggering, Kravitz is mindful of how she portrays it.

Supporting Kravitz’s artistic vision is a stellar and interesting cast. Ackie is phenomenal as Frida, a woman who’s eager to join the elite circles Slater King runs in but soon learns that the price of admission is higher than she thought. Her slow realization that her fantasy retreat is a nightmare is beautifully acted, as is her resolve to do something about it.

As the “bro squad” surrounding Slater, Kravitz packed the cast with an interesting mix of recognizable actors. Christian Slater, Simon Rex, and Haley Joel Osment are all in King’s roster — and they range from outright sexist (Slater) to new-age obsessed (Rex) to reeling after a divorce (Osmet). As the king of this little group of heteronormative micro-aggressions, Slater is the most charming, and most insidious, of the bunch. Tatum is brilliant in the role, playing the type of man who seems sincere and uses just enough therapy-speak to make people see him as enlightened and evolved. When Slater tells you they’re doing drugs “with intention” it makes their substance-fueled partying seem progressive instead of like a stale frat party.

Though Blink Twice is a strong debut, it’s not infallible. I’m not sure that the ending makes the statement Kravitz wants to make. The plot is a little thin at times. But the fact remains that Zoë Kravitz has put herself on the map as a savvy filmmaker with plenty to say. I look forward to her next work.

Verdict: A smart satire with remarkable visual art, if you can get past the triggering content, this is one to watch.

Blink Twice is rated R and is available in theaters August 30.