-Written by Kyle Bain.
Tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) has all the money in the world. He has the looks. He’s suave. So, when he invites cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) to spend time with him on his private island with friends, she takes him up on the offer, naturally. Blink Twice explores the realities of exploitation and the many, twisted forms that it can take. Zoё Kravitz’ directorial debut takes viewers on a twisted, sometimes sickening ride sure to make your stomach turn.
In a world where we are numb to most things (thanks to social media), Blink Twice begins with a trigger warning. It reads as follows:
“Blink Twice is a psychological thriller about the abuse of power. While this is a fictionalized movie, it contains mature themes and depictions of violence - including sexual violence.”
I think it’s pretty clear that some of the things depicted throughout the course of Blink Twice will have an ill effect on some, that this film has the potential to rub viewers the wrong way. Now, I don’t necessarily mind that Kravitz and her team wanted to warn viewers of the potential discomfort present in her film, but I actually think that the trigger warning steals from the mystery of the film to a degree. While Blink Twice is most certainly a thriller, with elements of horror, it’s also a mystery–and the film is reliant on the mystery working in order to entertain viewers. The sexual exploitation present in the film is part of that mystery, and had I not been warned ahead of time, I think I would have appreciated this integral aspect of the film’s development even more.
With that said, the film is far from ruined, and this is honestly one of my favorite films of the summer (behind only Deadpool & Wolverine and Longlegs). Unless you live under a soundproof rock, or you simply don’t give a shit about superhero movies, then you know that Tatum made an appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine as well. His talent, in both films, has propelled him to the top of my list of actors for the summer. This is the summer of Channing Tatum, as he performs in Blink Twice so wonderfully well that I’d consider him for an Oscar when the time comes. Not only does he thrive in a dark, twisted film, he outshines the talents of Geena Davis, Christian Slater, and more–actors that have put a stamp on acting for decades. He’s nearly perfect in his performance here, and not a second passed in which I wasn’t enamored by what he brought to screen.
Interestingly, the most effective part of the entire film, however, maybe even beyond Tatum’s talents, was the sound design. Sound Designer Jon Flores takes ordinary sounds like the sound of a vape or applause and he contorts them into something unique. Even better, he manages to make these things sound similar throughout the course of Blink Twice. As the sounds combine to make something mesmerizing, I fell almost into a trance, becoming part of the film–full entranced by what I was hearing. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this strongly about sound design in a film, but what Flores brings to life in Blink Twice is nothing short of spectacular, often the thing that drives it forward and makes the film so powerful.
I fucking hate snakes. There are few things in this world that I hate more than snakes; so much so that I have semi-regular nightmares about the satanic fucks. As I always say: “snakes are bad people.” Blink Twice is not a film that I thought would terrifying me in any capacity–but it does. It uses snakes as part of the narrative, and we often get up close and personal with these slithering creatures. With that, I think it’s fair to say that there’s something for everyone in Blink Twice. While the exploitation of women isn’t something that causes me great discomfort (even though I certainly understand how horrific it is), it was the snakes that managed to get to me during the film and terrify the shit out of me. Blink Twice works on so many levels, and it is sure to make you squirm.
Blink Twice is one of the best films of the summer, and the last thing that I saw in theaters before heading back for the upcoming school year. Had the film been underwhelming I may have been disappointed that it was my summer-movie swan song–but Blink Twice hits all the right notes, entertains from the start, and has something for just about everyone. If you’re squeamish, then maybe Blink Twice isn’t for you, but if you love film, a great narrative, spectacular acting, and a perfect use of sound, then Blink Twice will certainly tickle your fancy.
Directed by Zoë Kravitz.
Written by Zoë Kravitz & E.T. Feigenbaum.
Starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, Alia Shawkat, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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