'Blink Twice' review: Zoe Kravitz skewers the rich in high concept, low return thriller
Courtesy of MGM/Amazon
Adding director to her already massive resume that includes: writer, musician, and actress, Zoe Kravitz’s eat-the-rich satire “Blink Twice” is a movie filled with plenty of ideas and filmmaker flourish (in addition to a stacked cast) that, more often than not, feels like a movie you’ve probably seen before, especially in a post “Promising Young Woman,” “Midsommar,” and “Get Out” world. It still gets credit for trying to say a thing or two about the #MeToo movement and how the world never holds rich bros accountable for their behaviors. It deals with trauma and the tropical set locale Kravitz and co-writer E.T. Feigenbaum cooked up is obviously a nod to Jeffrey Epstein’s island, and to reveal more details would probably be considered critical malpractice.
On a filmmaking scale, Kravitz gets the most out of her single location thriller, making the playground seem bigger than the overall canvas and as the world gets established and we’re introduced to an entourage of colorful characters, “Blink Twice” starts off strong before sputtering out late in the ninth inning. Naomi Ackie, last seen playing Whitney Houston in the long forgotten biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” plays Frida, a broke catering waitress who dreams of influencer fame and lavish vacations alongside bestie/roommate Jess (Alia Shawkat - great, but underused).
The two manage to weasel their way into a gala run by ultra-wealthy tycoon Slater King (Channing Tatum - doing enough), who might as well be a conduit for Elon Musk, and inadvertently find themselves invited to his private island for what promises to be a good time. Slater has been in the hot seat as of late, offering several apologies for some undisclosed act of inappropriate behavior, and uses his island as a way to escape reality. Joining for the excursions are his employees and friends (including Christian Slater, Simon Rex (!), and an offbeat assistant played by Geena Davis) in addition to a trio of babes, among them “Hit Man” standout Adria Arjona, who are all eager to get stoned and let loose.
Seems simple enough until Frida and Jess begin unpacking that something is amiss at their luxurious getaway. I found myself intrigued by the mystery, but also searching for something more impactful. Since we’ve seen more than our fair share of “truma” dump movies that play on gender and racial norms, the continuous jabs about vaping, self-care, and technology, were a little toothless. Ackie doesn’t make for a very convincing lead either, which is more of a fault of the script giving the male antagonist more screen-time, something that’s incredibly ironic when you consider what the movie is trying to say about misogyny in modern day society.
And, as has been the case with just about every indie film this summer from “Cuckoo” to “Longlegs,” there’s a big twist that undercuts the initial set-up. Teeing up another classic example of how less can be more; and the questions I was left with sent me into a spiral that clouded the film's memorable elements. Though scenes involving Haley Joel Osment having a giant dick drawn on his face or listening to Simon Rex’s character lament about chasing down chickens or uncorking a bottle of wine are still seared into my brain.
But the reveal, and everything that comes with it, makes you wish Kravtiz had the wherewithal to cut back on the oversimplification of the plot and deliver more satisfactory island thrills (and perhaps take another swing at a late breaking Channing Tatum monologue that left plenty to be desired). Kravtiz has no problem pushing buttons or offering a trigger warning about sexual violence at the beginning of the movie, but in an era filled with top-of-the-line high concept and edgy thrillers, you must be more disciplined in order to stand out from the pack.
Grade: C+
BLINK TWICE is now playing in theaters.
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