THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE // A FILM REVIEW OF “BLINK TWICE”
BY MATEO MORENO
The wishful thinking of meeting a rich person and being treated like royalty. Knowing that you’ve worked your ass off all of your life just to stay slightly above water and then, as luck has it, your fate springs you up and into a big pile of luxury. Most people have all had these thoughts before and judging by the celebrity worship we have to this day, you most likely have too. So, it’s pretty brilliant that Zoë Kravitz’s stages her directorial debut among all of our fantasies. But like most fantasies, they’re actually leading to our nightmares, and that’s exactly what BLINK TWICE does. It begins with best friends Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) cater a high-end party for billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). He’s recently been the subject of a lot of controversy but after making several rounds of the apology circuit, he’s claimed he’s turned over a new leaf. He’s bought an island and is staying there, growing his own food and living a simple life. Frida has worked her ass off all her life and for once, doesn’t want to just be ignored or seen as invisible. She’s drawn to Slater, and at the party (after ditching their catering duds for fancy dresses) decides to make her move.
She does and Slater takes both Frida and Jess into his private circle at the party. They laugh, drink and party all night. Feeling like she actually bonded and truly made her way into this circle, she’s satisfied. However, Slater makes a bold move and invites them to his private island for a quick getaway, which all of his other friends there are going to (His other friends include Adria Arjona, Christin Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel, Levon Hawke and Trew Mullen). It’s the kind of insane “this never happens” offer that on the outside makes you go, “Yeah, I’m not doing that.” But they’re both caught up in the moment and after living the life of service for so many years, they jump at the chance and climb aboard his jet plane. Once they’re on the island, Jess comments that, “Isn’t it kind of weird that they have clothes for us here?” To which Frida writes off as, “Maybe, but it’s probably just kind of a rich person kind of thing.” And she’s right. He’s provided new clothes for everyone to enjoy and party in. He’s lavishing them with fancy perfume, amazing food, drinks and plenty of drugs. It’s a boozy, drug filled paradise. Everyone is having a blast. Every day seems like the one before. Wake up, meet up with friends in paradise. Eat, drink, smoke, laugh and repeat it the next day. But there are strange things in the air and Jess is the first one to feel it. First off, Slater’s assistant (played by Geena Davis) asks for all of their phones on the island. It’s weird, but everyone else seems to throw them in the pile without thinking. Parts of the island seem to be off limits. And there’s a service staff member who gives major freak out vibes to Frida. Her memory starts to get foggy. We see shot after shot of the girls all running across the lawn, one run stops when one of the girls’ comments, “Wait, why are we running?” Then they all giggle and fall to the floor. There’s just something off and when. Jess disappears suddenly, that’s when the weirdness kicks into high gear.
Kravitz has crafted a really intriguing and intoxicating first half of a film that spirals into a manic and dizzying second half. The shots are beautiful, and the pacing takes its time, just enough to throw you off as well. The cast are all sublime, especially Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat and Adria Arjona. Ackie gives a hell of a fierce performance, especially when the strangeness kicks into high gear. There’s been comparisons to Jordan Peele’s film Get Out and without spoiling anything, that comparison definitely rings true. Before my screening, there was a trigger warning of sexual violence, so I’ll post that here as well, as it does play a part in the film. My only real complaint is that there’s a bit of a “device” that’s revealed that you just have to kind of “go with” to make the film work. But it does work, so it’s a small complaint. Blink Twice is a great satire of the rich and famous and a true cautionary tale for jumping into blind waters. It’s darkly funny, rich and horrifying. Truly a great entrance into the directing world Kravitz.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN BY Zoë Kravitz, E.T. Feigenbaum DIRECTED BY Zoë Kravitz STARRING Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjona, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel, Levon Hawke, Trew Mullen, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan NOW PLAYING IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE