Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’: Style Triumphs Over Logic in a Great Look

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” someone once famously remarked in a movie. It made no sense in 1970 and makes even less sense today. Apologies have evidently become a cultural staple in recent decades.

At the beginning of Zoë Kravitz’s film “Blink Twice,” we see the tech-mogul protagonist, Slater King, portrayed by Channing Tatum, sitting on a TV couch offering an apology for some unnamed misdeed. It’s a scene we’ve seen before: a famous person issues a contrite apology, disappears for a while (in this case, to a remote island with chickens), and then re-emerges, seemingly forgiven. Although familiar, it remains captivating, especially with Tatum’s delightfully smarmy performance.

“Blink Twice” is a significant leap for Tatum as an actor and an even bigger one for Kravitz, who co-wrote, directed, and managed to craft a stylish, ambitious film with the potential to be a gender-themes thriller akin to “Get Out” or “Promising Young Woman.”

Kravitz almost nails it. Supported by a stellar cast, she directs with confidence and flair until the narrative unravels into a somewhat incoherent mess. It’s not the sudden gore that’s the problem—this is, after all, a horror film—but rather the sudden lapse in logic. You may find it difficult to look away, but unlike the aforementioned films by Jordan Peele and Emerald Fennell, you might also struggle to explain what you’ve just witnessed.

Nonetheless, it’s entertaining up until it isn’t. Frida, played excellently by Naomi Ackie, experiences much the same. She’s a cocktail waitress with a passion for nail art, living in a shabby apartment with her roommate Jess, portrayed by Alia Shawkat. They snag a waitressing job at a fundraiser and hatch a plan to slip into slinky dresses to mingle with the wealthy guests halfway through.

To their surprise, the fundraiser is for Slater’s company. When Frida trips and falls, it’s none other than Slater himself who helps her up and introduces her to his friends. Before long, Frida and Jess are on Slater’s private plane, headed to his personal Fantasy Island.

Everything seems perfect. The water and champagne sparkle, and the closets are filled with stylish resort wear that matches the other female guests’. There’s flaky, stoned Camilla, tough Sarah (played compellingly by Adria Arjona), and others. Prepared by Slater’s friend Cody (Simon Rex), the food is impeccable. Alcohol flows freely, the sheets are soft, and drugs are available to be used “with intention,” according to Slater.

Days blur into nights, and soon no one knows what day it is. Phones were confiscated upon arrival by Slater’s ditzy assistant Stacy, played by Geena Davis, who shines but is unfortunately underused. Yet, it feels like something more sinister is at work.

Avoiding spoilers, it becomes increasingly clear that something is wrong with the place. The resort workers’ ominous faces suggest they are hiding something. Frida notices dirt under her fingernails and some mysterious red stains on her dress. Strange things keep happening.

Frida is frustrated with Jess, who is hesitant. She feels recognized and important for the first time and doesn’t want her friend to spoil it. As the facade continues—echoing the Instagram-era obsession with appearing to have a good time—Frida’s affirmation of “having a good time” becomes less convincing.

Even when the situation spirals into horror and chaos, someone still eerily suggests, “There’s a version of this where we’re all having a good time.”

Kravitz delves into deeper themes, particularly societal expectations for women to always smile, play along, and pretend they’re having fun while “forgetting” the bad stuff. This element of forgetting plays a prominent role in the film, which we won’t spoil.

Kravitz’s creation mostly succeeds in delivering entertainment and intrigue. She just needs a more cohesive ending. Nonetheless, viewers will eagerly anticipate what she has in store next.

“Blink Twice,” distributed by Amazon/MGM, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association for its strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use, language, and some sexual references. Its running time is 103 minutes. The film earned two and a half stars out of four.

Source: Various.