Blink Twice Review: You Won’t Forget This Twisted Thriller
Zoe Kravitz’s Scores Big With Her Directorial Debut
Blink Twice, much like its title, is a film that has had very little marketing and fanfare surrounding it. It is one of two new releases this weekend, the other being the remake of The Crow, and very little has been said about its release. That is unfortunate, as Blink Twice is a smart, twisted thriller mystery with a lot of dark humor and excellent cinematography.
The story of Blink Twice centers around Frida, a struggling waitress and nail artist who is enamored with billionaire Slater King through social media. After a chance encounter, she finds herself the eye of Slater’s desires, and is promptly invited to join him and his affluent friends on his own personal island for a vacation stay. Frida is joined by a group of women including her roommate and best friend Jess, and the two enjoy a whirlwind getaway with good vibes, all expenses paid private grotto, and a lot of drug fueled nights. Things slowly devolve as the two friends notice inconsistencies with their memories and the feeling that something is not quite what it seems. When one of the girls disappears, it is up to Frida to discover the truth about her island getaway and her billionaire love interest, doing her best to not get caught.
The two films I was reminded of when watching Blink Twice were Ready or Not and The Menu. Both films pit an unknowing strong female outsider against affluent individuals in a claustrophobic yet posh environment and a dark mystery surrounding the parties host. Zoe Kravitz makes her directorial debut here, and does a fantastic job at keeping things moving at a slow but steady pace which adds to the anxiety and uneasiness of the situation. There are a few moments where the movie lingers too long on the drug parties. When the twist is revealed halfway through the movie the pace picks up. There are many clues seen throughout the first half that feel justified rather than shoehorned. Each character has a distinct personality, making it all the more satisfying when things take a turn for the worse and everyone gets a moment to shine. Editing is used to great effect starting with a fun and inventive way of introducing the film's title screen, which flashes in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, a subtle nod to the nature of the story. It doesn’t break any new ground in storytelling, but it is a fun and stylish ride nonetheless.
Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra is known for his work in The Bear, Euphoria, and several music videos, and he brings a good eye for color into Blink Twice. The opening shot of a gecko brings out all the textures of the lizard's skin and rich green color, and he uses red, yellow, and green in many of the film's key shots to heighten the importance of elements. He also uses different blur and camera techniques to add a dizzying nature to the drugs and memory loss. While this is effective in most shots, some scenes felt overdone and could have used a tighter control. Colors become subtly less vibrant during the second half of the film indicating a shift in the plot, and quick zooms add a fun zest to some story reveals that keep the movie from becoming too dark.
The cast is filled with talented individuals, with Naomi Ackie playing Frida with quiet intensity and desperation, and Channing Tatum being sexy and mysterious as a billionaire tech mogul. This makes it all the more scummy as the monster behind the man is slowly revealed. The rest of the cast is well rounded, with notable appearances by Haley Joel Osment and Geena Davis as both friend and assistant to Channing Tatum’s Slater. The biggest standout is Adria Arjona, who starts off playing as a typical reality tv star Sarah but really pulls her weight with her character. We start off hating her and end up rooting for her near the end.
I was surprised at the quality of Zoe Kravitz's debut as a director. She has a good eye for detail and added a good amount of humor mixed with some very disturbing imagery. Paired with Adam Newport-Berra’s stunning cinematography, a well written story, and a solid cast, she has the makings of a great film director. Blink Twice will hopefully become a sleeper hit that will excite audiences and individuals who watch the movie. This will become a movie that viewers will not forget.
Pros
Great cinematography
Solid cast
Dark humor help break the tension
Decent pacing
Cons
Storyline lacks originality
Overuse of camera blur in some scenes
Score: 7 out of 10