Who among us hasn’t dreamed of being whisked away from our humdrum lives to an exotic island, populated by beautiful people and lush with luxury? This is the dream come true for Blink Twice‘s heroine, a cater waiter named Frida (I Wanna Dance With Somebody‘s Naomi Ackie), when dashing tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) offers her a private plane ride to his equally private island. But in this place of poshness and privilege, something heinous hides in plain sight.
For her directorial debut, actress turned co-writer/helmer Zoë Kravitz brings in a star-studded cast that includes Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Adria Arjona, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, and Kyle MacLachlan. Together, they deliver a gnarly thriller about power, betrayal, and desire that’s sure to leave audiences rattled, yet wearing a crooked grin.
Blink Twice is diabolically cast.
Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
Even from the trailer, female viewers might raise an eyebrow at Frida’s decision to fly off with no notice to Slater’s private island, where she swiftly surrenders her phone to his fiercely chipper assistant (Davis). But the script by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum builds in unspoken assurances: Frida’s bestie Jess (Shawkat) is coming along, for starters. Plus, there are other women who will there, like astrology-loving app developer Camilla (Liz Caribel), chess-savvy pothead Heather (Trew Mullen), and Survivor Babes reality TV star Sarah (Arjona). Yet it’s not just that the presence of other women makes Frida feel safe about following a billionaire to a second (and remote!) location. These women have an enviable confidence and fun-loving vibe that is intoxicating — even before the party drugs are offered.
So, when things go from sublime to surreal, it’s hard to point the finger and proclaim undeniably that we’d know better. Plus, who could resist the allure of these men? Kravitz casts Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, and Haley Joel Osment — an array of actors who’ve been celebrity crushes, sex symbols, and dreamboats. It’s easy to imagine saying yes to this fantasy of fame, fortune, and rich, hot, and famous men. Still, Kravitz’s female characters are self-aware enough to second-guess their choices as the fancy and fun facade of the island begins to crack.
When Jess goes missing, Frida is mortified to realize that no one else seems to remember her being there at all. But who could forget that freckled spitfire, the sort of friend who always has a lighter when you need one? As Frida grows suspicious, her investigation will lead her into surprising alliances, dark conspiracies, and heart-wrenching revelations.
Kravitz smartly gives her thriller space to breathe.
Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
The premise of a private island that’s not actually paradise might sound cliched, but Kravitz and Feigenbaum give their story time to develop and envelop. A grubby bathroom scene in Frida and Jess’s apartment swiftly establishes their shared intimacy and humble circumstances. The gala, where they strategically swap their cater-waiter uniforms for slinking cocktail dresses to sneak in among the affluent guests, is explored from the crowded kitchens to the swanky ballroom. However, it’s on the island itself where Kravitz wisely takes her time, developing the heady routine of pleasure-chasing, which involves an endless supply of drugs, booze, cuisine, and bright, white attire for every occasion.
Sure, Jess will joke that the female guests all being provided the same white bathing suits, the same white dinner dresses, and the same accessories seems “cultish.” But it’s a detail easy to forget in the haze of pot smoke and budding romance. Frida’s keen to spend every moment she can with Slater, and Tatum is a master of playing the romantic lead. His warm smile, concentrated stare, and soft, husky voice is a smooth seduction. And all this sultriness and sumptuousness invites us to live vicariously through Frida, with Ackie’s wide eyes and enchanted smile reflecting our own. This cozy setup makes the jagged punctures of this dream world hit all the harder, because you might even forget you’re not watching a romance but a thriller.
Kravitz crafts a crackling and satisfying thriller.
Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
I don’t need to share spoilers to celebrate Blink Twice‘s second half. Simply put, Ackie handles the turn from besotted to terrified with a visceral aplomb. Tatum makes a surprisingly sensational villain, while the rest of the supporting cast bursts with energy, whether playing malicious or manic. Christian Slater in particular seems to relish the chance to sink his teeth into Kravitz’s juicy revelations, practically spitting through an unnerving smile.
Elsewhere, Rex (who earned critical acclaim for 2021’s Red Rocket) and Haley Joel Osment are happy to play a pair of fools, while Caribel and Mullen dazzle with brat summer charm. Arjona proves a standout though, shifting from Frida’s romantic rival to something far less archetypal and far more complex — and even surprisingly funny.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of Blink Twice is just how slyly humorous it is. The material gets dark, but Kravitz and her cast lace in an absurdity that keeps us at the edge of our seats, instead of buried behind our hands. The defiant comedy amid the horror here urges us to keep hope alive, even when things look bleak, much like Radio Silence’s 2019 hit Ready or Not. That film feels like an influence here, in terms of some plot and aesthetic details, and these similarities — as well as visual nods to movies like I Spit on Your Grave — might have some viewers snarking that Blink Twice is derivative. But Kravitz uses familiar pieces to build her foundation, then crafts a freshly exhilarating adventure that feels of its time. Rather than an imitator of these movies, it feels a kindred spirit, using its screams to deliver a message that is achingly timeless.
Which is all to say, Blink Twice is a knockout.
Blink Twice opens in theaters Aug. 23.
