When I first heard of Blink Twice, I was excited to hear Zoe Kravitz was directing. Then, I saw the cast, an incredible lineup of talented stars and I couldn’t wait to see this movie. Just as with the title, I highly recommend you don’t blink, pay attention to all the brilliant details in this film. From the writing to the cinematography to the acting, you won’t want to miss a single minute.

Blink Twice is a psychological thriller directed by Zoe Kravitz in her directorial debut from a script she co-wrote with E.T. Feigenbaum. In the movie, Frita (Naomi Ackie), a cocktail waitress becomes infatuated with billionaire tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum) and she, along with her friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat), at his invitation travel to his private island for a luxurious party. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone is having a great time. But strange things start happening and Frita begins questioning her reality. Frita will have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of the party alive. The film also stars Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment and Geena Davis. 

It is the details of the film that drive the psychological thriller. Every little piece of the story focuses the viewer on the idea that something is wrong on the island and all the clues are right there in front of you. From the dissonant scenes of debauchery to the colors of towels, the details help guide the viewer to the truth of the island but never give away the ultimate ending and resolution of the film. The details shine a light on the themes of abuse, trauma and power in new and unique ways.

The writing is perfectly balanced to enhance the psychological elements. At the beginning of the film, you wonder why the women even come to the island. And as everyone parties, there is no one that is particularly likable except maybe the charming Slater King. But as the layers of the narrative are peeled away, the viewer begins to see more of the truth along with Frita. The women become more engaging as you realize that their actions are controlled by the men around them. And as the creeping horror of the true situation becomes apparent, the story crashes to a surprising and incredible resolution that as unexpected as it is remains true to the idea of power and control. 

The performances are riveting. In particular Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum are incredibly compelling. Their chemistry is dynamic, building the push pull of power and control between the pair. Naomi Ackie is incredible in her performance, emotional and able to change emotions sharply from second to second. It is particularly good in the final scenes as her character learns the full truth of the island. Channing Tatum’s performance is one of his best to date as he subtly provides clues to his character’s true emotions with little actions and hints. Both performances are powerful. The rest of the cast is equally talented. Alia Shawkat as Jess is critical to the success of the film and the overall narrative. Adria Arjona as Sarah has a momentous connection with Frita, the pair revolving around the other in a competitive dance that they eventually learn is toxic. Geena Davis is gifted in her role as Stacy and Kyle MacLachlan is eerie in his role as Slater’s therapist. Every performance adds layers to the story.

While there are scenes that might be disturbing, one of the things I like the most about this film is the pure restraint. Nothing is shown that isn’t important to the overall arch of the movie and the themes of power, abuse and trauma. Every detail is critical and nothing is done for shock value or to tantalize the audience. Every moment is set up to control the narrative and help the audience experience some of what the characters are experiencing. And as I said, the details don’t overshadow or spoil the ending, allowing the audience to experience a truly surprising twist in the movie, one that few will see coming. 

If you like psychological thrillers, I highly recommend Blink Twice. The film has brilliant details, in the writing, the performances, and in the cinematography. Zoe Kravitz has directed an emotional and powerful narrative that ends triumphantly with a brilliant twist. I love the restraint, the performances are out of this world excellent. Both Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum should win awards for their performances in the film. Don’t blink, don’t miss a thing and go watch this film in theaters. It is not to be missed.

Rating: 5 out of 5 red bags

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