Blink Twice

It's always interesting when we get a new famous-person-first director. In the case of Blink Twice, that would be Zoe Kravitz. 

Her newest film, which stars her current beau, Channing Tatum, is a thriller of the Get Out variety, having clear inspiration from that - and several other films. Very quickly, it's apparent that she has a competent grip on the directorial duties and once the credits roll, Blink Twice is one hell of a debut film. 

The film is getting quite a bit of buzz both for its quality and its "trigger warning" at the beginning, that cites elements of sexual abuse and abuse of power. This is Rated R so those shouldn't be taken lightly, but if I were to answer the tagline, "Are you having a good time?" it would be an unequivocal "yes". 

We're quickly introduced to Frida (Ackie) and Jess (Shawkat) who are waitresses for an event where the fundraiser happens to be linked to tech billionaire, Slater (Tatum). Slater has previously been "cancelled" for abuse of power and sexual abuse allegations, apologized for his behavior, and secluded himself to an island for a simple life, aside from some philanthropic efforts. Frida has a crush on him and his lifestyle, despite his allegations, and one thing leads to another at the gala and Frida and Jess are invited to Slater's island with a bunch of friends. Upon arriving at the island, it seems too good to be true with raspberry-dotted champagne flowing, drugs every night, fine dining, and lounging by the pool. Slowly, things start to become eerily repetitive as the mystery of Blink Twice unfolds. 

Aside from Kravitz's confident direction (also, worth noting that Blink Twice has some fantastic color usage), the best part of this film is the cast. There's arguably no A-listers outside of Tatum, but they're all role players who quickly give each character a distinct attitude, personality, and vibe. Not too dissimilar from what the Knives Out films have been doing lately. Naomi Ackie and Alia "Maeby" Shawkat have immediate chemistry as best friends, Simon Rex is laughably goofy, Haley Joel Osment is persistently grumpy, and Adria Arjona is mysterious, yet alluring. Others supplement some of those standouts - perhaps only Christian Slater feels underused - but the impressive cast is definitely part of the fun with Blink Twice. 

It builds mystery and suspense well too. Much like the aforementioned Get Out, there's something underneath the surface, but much like our characters, the audience can't quite figure it out. There are breadcrumbs along the way until finally the whole thing busts open in disturbing fashion. Parts of the film are a bit clunky in terms of cause-and-effect events; the film stutters a tad, but never enough to derail the whole thing. Several twists are revealed, some more obvious than others, and the ending is a unique direction that I wasn't necessarily expecting. Along the way, there's an undercurrent of humor deftly woven throughout the more sensitive material that keeps it feeling breezy at the right times. 

How much I could rewatch Blink Twice remains to be seen. I imagine it would still be entertaining, but the mystery would be gone which spoils a lot of the fun. However, for a first time view, this is a great time at the movies that will keep you engaged the entire time. And as a starting film for Kravitz, it's exciting that this is the level of quality she's already at. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 8/10