Directed by: Zoë Kravitz

Starring:

Naomi Ackie as Frida

Channing Tatum as Slater King

Alia Shawkat as Jess

Christian Slater as Vic

Simon Rex as Cody

Adria Arjona as Sarah

Haley Joel Osment as Tom

Liz Caribel as Camilla

Levon Hawke as Lucas

Trew Mullen as Heather

Geena Davis as Stacy

Kyle MacLachlan as Rich

Runtime: 102 minutes

Rating: R (For intense scenes, language, and some violence)

Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, Blink Twice, presents an ambitious psychological thriller that ultimately struggles to deliver on its intriguing premise. The film follows Frida (Naomi Ackie), an animal-themed nail artist and cocktail waitress, who, along with her friend Jess, is invited to a private island by Slater King (Christian Slater), a billionaire tech mogul recently involved in a scandal.

Upon arrival, Frida and Jess find themselves in a luxurious but unsettling environment where phones are confiscated, and mysterious events begin to unfold. The guests, including reality star Sarah, aspiring app developer Camilla, and lawyer Heather, are treated to lavish accommodations and high-end experiences, which are soon marred by unsettling occurrences involving hallucinogenic drugs and a suspicious flower capable of erasing memories.

As Frida experiences strange encounters and begins to piece together the island’s dark secrets, including the disappearance of Jess, the film delves into a disturbing narrative about exploitation and memory manipulation. The plot thickens with a series of violent confrontations, ultimately revealing that the island’s male guests have been sexually assaulting the women and erasing their memories to cover up their crimes.

While the film’s premise is compelling, its execution falls short. The narrative is often predictable and lacks the tight suspense needed to fully engage the audience. The tension built up by the mysterious and eerie setting is undermined by a storyline that feels both convoluted and heavy-handed. The psychological elements, which could have been gripping, instead come off as melodramatic and poorly integrated.

Channing Tatum’s performance is solid but not enough to elevate the film. Naomi Ackie’s portrayal of Frida adds some emotional depth, but the overall character development is lacking. Christian Slater and the rest of the cast, including Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, and Haley Joel Osment, contribute to the film but are limited by a script that fails to fully capitalize on their talents.

Kravitz’s direction shows promise but struggles with pacing and coherence. The film’s visual style and atmosphere are occasionally effective, but they are not enough to offset the narrative flaws. The film’s attempts at psychological intrigue and horror often feel disjointed and fail to create the intended impact.

In conclusion, Blink Twice is a mixed effort that fails to fully realize its intriguing concept. While it offers some moments of suspense and a notable cast, it is ultimately let down by a lackluster execution and predictable plot developments. It’s a film that may engage viewers with its premise but may leave them disappointed by its overall delivery. 2 stars out of 5.