The Wasteland Reviewer

Blink Twice (2024) Written Review

What type of film would you expect actor Zoe Kravitz to write and direct once she got behind the camera? In many ways, she followed in the footsteps of Jordan Peele and went with a socially conscious horror/thriller. Blink Twice is a twisted tale of a young woman and her best friend getting whisked away to a mysterious island owned by a powerful and notorious tech-billionaire. You would think nothing could go wrong…right? In all seriousness, this looks like the world’s biggest red flag and the audience is along for the ride to see what sick and twisted turns are awaiting our protagonist. 

What does Kravitz have up her sleeve from the directorial chair? Blink Twice is a sleek and stylish film that is full of color, energy, and tension. The visuals of the film are so rich with its colors that you must appreciate the eye Kravitz has for the visual medium. Her eye for the camera is impressive as well with great camera movements that feel fresh, dynamic, and intentional. The cinematography from Adam Newport-Berra is evocative with each frame speaking loudly for themselves. Kravitz and her team certainly know visual storytelling. The editing is top notch as well as there is a specific rhythm to the storytelling that is fluid and propulsive. There is not a single shot that lasts longer than it is meant to. That makes the pacing so impressive as this film never lets up in terms of offering engaging and enthralling elements on screen. But one of the most important elements of Kravitz’ handling of the film is the tone. This is a great black comedy that is legitimately hilarious throughout but knows how to get down, dirty, and brutal when the time comes. 

Do Kravitz and co writer E.T. Feigenbaum, craft an equally as engaging story to go along with the impressive direction? The strongest element of the script is how detailed it is. There are few films this side of Edgar Wright’s that has such great usage of planted details that deliver shocking and satisfying payoffs by the time the credits roll. The story is certainly mysterious and engaging. From the second our protagonist and her friend land on this island, there is something dark and foreboding present. The way the film expertly controls the narrative and only peelings the layers back precisely when it means too is something to praise. This shocking film has plenty of twists and none of them will be spoiled here for sure. Blink Twice is a film’s best service mysterious and unknown. Along with the storytelling, the characters stand out as well. Each character feels realized and unique in their own way. They are all engaging and fun to watch in their own way. Few films with such a big ensemble deliver in that way. 

What does Kravitz have to say behind the slick direction and twisted script? There is a poignant contemplation on cancel culture. Channing Tatum’s Slater King is a “reformed” bad boy tech-billionaire who has his own approach to moving past his unsavory behavior. There is an interesting commentary on cancel culture and how society navigates its relationships with fallen figures. The dichotomy between “forgiveness” and “forgetting” plays well in thematic elements as well as becoming an impact aspect of the overall mystery. The scenario of young women going to a private island with a group of strange men is not lost upon the film either. The horrors that are exposed show some impressive depth and interesting exploration of societal dynamics between men and women. 

Does this stacked cast deliver as well? Tatum delivers an interesting performance that works on two levels. There is the white toothed smile of a confident and charming billionaire. Then he can strip that persona away and deliver one of the most interesting performances of his career. There is one scene where he shows a side to him that most have never seen before. In general, this film boasts dual performances from multiple cast members as the characters experience paradise but then come back down to reality. Naomi Ackie is a charming lead who has to balance the wide eyed smitten young woman at the beginning of the film with the slow realization of what is really going on. Ackie nails this and walks that tightrope with confidence. Alia Shawkat (who has impeccable chemistry with Ackie) does much of the same. One of the big standouts is Adria Arjona who, along with Ackie, anchors much of the latter half of the film with their range. The likes of Simon Rex, Christian Slater, and Haley Joel Osment all play their roles perfectly, showing that the casting director did an amazing job bringing this team together. There is not a single performance that lets you down. 

Did August just produce one of the best surprises of the year? It sure did because Blink Twice is an astounding success. Kravitz has arrived as a filmmaker and crafted a meticulously put together thriller with plenty of laughs along the way. There is a richness and depth with a socially conscious piece of genre filmmaking.