Blink Twice was originally going to be called Pussy Island, meaning it joins the likes of American Fiction (Fuck) and A Family Affair (Mother Fucker) in adopting a disappointing title downgrade. Fortunately, that's pretty much the only disappointing thing about this stellar directing debut from Zoe Kravitz.
Naomi Ackie plays nail technician Frida who, along with her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) is whisked away to billionaire Channing Tatum's private island after meeting him at
A function they are working. The partying is more reserved than she was expecting and she is convinced she is having a great time but as the reality of accompanying a bunch of strangers to the middle of nowhere and giving up your means of contacting the outside world starts to creep in, Frida can't shake the feeling things might not be as idyllic as they seem.
The film this will be most compared to is Get Out and while it doesn't quite hit those heights it brings the same kind of exuberant energy married to the same real anger. Kravitz shows more skill than any first time director has a right to in somehow keeping things breezy, entertaining and funny while dealing with some truly traumatic goings on without ever diminishing or trivialising the subject matter. Filling the time between set up and reveal can be tricky in a movie like this but a sharp script makes sure the audience stays invested and while there is good chance you will have a rough idea where things aregoing the reveal isnt any less impactful. Suffice to say, if you've seen the trailers and think you might know where this is going be warned, it goes there in an ucompromising way but offers some catharsis come the final credits.
The cast are great, with Ackie particularly impressing in the lead role. Her shift from wide-eyed hopeful to determined fighter is completely believable and her relationships all feel real, whether its close friendship with Shawkat, rivalry turned allyship with Adriana Arjona's reality TV star or her fascination (to start with at least) with Tatum. Channing Tatum himself embodies the charming and down to earth billionaire who is perhaps trying a little to hard to hide what is underneath. His group of friends/ hangers on are fairly one dimensional but you can't be disappointed with the likes of Christian Slater, Geena Davis and Haley Joel Osment popping up. They also nicely run the gamut of the kind of people you expect to be leeching of a rich egotist.
It would be unfair to say much more as Blink Twice is a film that should really be seen with a little context as possible but it really should be seen. It feels vital and current and if Kravitz can pull out another couple of films this good we might start calling Lenny "the father of that film director".
8 insincere corporate apologies out of 10.
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