Blink Twice

This is mainly due to:

• the very good actors, who are

charismatic and convincing. Especially the role of the self-made billionaire Channing Tatum and Adria Arjona.

Adria Arjona is the secret star of the movie - in my opinion. She looks stunning and plays the funniest scenes in the movie.

• and the story, which keeps you interested in how all of this is going to play out.

Basically, there are some "Saltburn" vibes (the rich invite the normal people to a non-stop party time, separated from the rest of the world) and some "Get Out" vibes. (Something seems wrong here).

The soundtrack is also really nice.

An absolutely brilliant choice of music, mainly soul/funk/Disco. Rufus with Chaka Khan, James Brown, and more.

And the movie is funny. It's almost a comedy, even though it's actually a brutal mystery thriller.

I recommend checking out this little gem. Don't listen to the extremely negative reviews. Haters gonna hate.

Zoe Kravitz's directorial debut, is a stylish and vicious social thriller that's got a lot going for it. The movie follows Frida, a young middle class woman invited to a tech billionaire's private island. What starts out as a romantic luxurious getaway quickly turns into a seriously messed-up experience filled with memory loss, mind games, and a whole lot of dark satire.

Kravitz proves she's got skill behind the camera, delivering a movie that looks great and balances humor with some very tense moments. The cast is solid, the dialogue's sharp, and there's plenty of cool visuals that keep you hooked. Kravitz is definitely more than just an actor trying out directing-she's got skills to back it up.

But here's the thing, despite all the style, Blink Twice stumbles under its own weight. The plot tries to tackle way too much in too little time-toxic masculinity, trauma, white privilege, cancel culture-you name it, it's in there. Because of that, the story gets messy, losing some of its impact. The pacing drags with repetitive scenes and foreshadowing that's so on-the-nose it almost spoils itself. By the time the big twist rolls around, you've probably already guessed it, and it doesn't hit as hard as it should. The ending undermines the faux feminist message that left me almost as disappointed as Saltburn. That is only the tip of the thematic issues... but someone more knowledgeable on theory should delve into it deeper.

If you've seen movies like Glass Onion, Triangle of Sadness, The Menu, or Don't Worry Darling, this one's gonna feel familiar. That's both good and bad-it's got a bit of that same vibe but also feels a little stale, even though it starts off strong. Had it come out ten or so years ago it'd be a phenomenon.

Still, Blink Twice isn't without its moments. It's got style, for sure, and Kravitz's dark tone might just help it pick up a cult following. The movie tries to flip into slasher mode in the third act, which sorta works, though as a horror snob I kind of wanted more grit and gore. Horror fans might dig it, but don't expect it to blow you away or come out feeling better.

It's clear that Blink Twice is well-made, but it's also very unpleasant. Watching it, I felt deeply unsettled and incredibly anxious. It effectively drew me into the fantasy alongside the characters. Zoe Kravitz shows she's got a future as a director, and maybe with a bit more focus, a sequel could really deliver. For now, though, Blink Twice is a mixed bag-worth checking out for its style and some cool ideas, but don't go in expecting a masterpiece.

This film was good. Enjoyable but hard not to keep thinking about the "client list" of Epsteins island. Imagine who's on it. This movie gives insight to that.... Anybody and everybody...people are truly sick and this movie does not land far from many truths. See it for yourself. I enjoyed the slower pacing as you watch the story slowly unfold like a blooming flower. I usually don't care for Canning Tatum but he wasn't bad in this. I think Zoe's first effort was solid but hopefully she will continue to hone her craft. Curious to see what she does next. This film isn't perfect but was not a waste of time.

The end really didn't do it for me.

I really was engaged with this movie for 95% of the ride and then the last couple of moments felt like.... A different story and point entirely.

I am still thinking about it and trying to reconcile in my mind why did they end it that way? It does not seem like the intention or maybe the general message of the rest of the film.

Is the ending supposed to be a statement of society, or a fantasy that we were supposed to be excited about? I don't know. It seemed contrived and trying to be edgy and I just wish something more practical happened with our main characters.

That ending wasn't justice. And it wasn't empowering. It was unsettling.

Reguardles, this film may make you really feel some intense emotions, as you figure out what is going on and I think they executed that very well. Everyone in this acted in a way that really impressed me and showed a lot of intent with just their body language in many scenes. I felt a lot more than I heard, and that was a very immersive experience.

I would have given this movie a 9, if it weren't for that ending. And I hope there one day is some other cut released that has almost anything else happening to these 2 main characters. It seems so out of place and fast, it makes you think it was merely an interchangeable afterthought, to what was a really interesting story and plot (during the majority of the movie) .

I went into this film without knowing anything, which is uncharacteristic of me. I didn't read about its production, didn't watch a trailer, didn't even know it was directed by Zoë Kravitz. I came home late from work and sat down for the first thing Amazon Prime promoted me that seemed watchable.

One thing's for sure though, this film stayed with me long after the credits. It kept me up all night and I imagine it's going to haunt me for days still. I tried to soothe with distractions but no trauma group or therapist prepared me for how triggered I would still get. Imagine if Get Out (2017, dir. Jordan Peele) had a baby with Promising Young Woman (2020, dir. Emerald Fennell) and Made for Love (TV Series 2021-2022, dir. Alissa Nutting). Unlike most revenge fantasies though, this film and the last two which were also created by women, understands something most male directors don't - we have to live in this world with our bad guys. They don't get to just die in a blaze of glory as we slo-mo walk away into a life of vindicated righteousness. While the film alluded to sexual assault of men as well (and the unfortunate fixation on the adage that "hurt people hurt people") the experience is still gendered extremely disproportionately.

It is a richly lit, shockingly edited, revolting look at wealth much in the style of Triangle of Sadness (2022, dir. Ruben Östlund) but it contributes unique and unexpected twists that kept me glued to the screen without pause. Like so many excellent films being made today, it is hard, raw, unrelenting, and it also forced me to once again face impossible things. I can't say it was healing but much of the healing journey doesn't feel like repair. It feels more like a burdensome pit in my stomach whose influence changes from age to age. Blink Twice brought up rage. Beautiful, deep, painful rage.