BLINK TWICE: A Missed Opportunity?

BLINK TWICE (Blu-ray)

2024 / 102 min

FROM WARNER BROS

#InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Buttnugget

Trailers had me thinking this might be similar in tone and satirical edge to 2022’s The Menu. However, Blink Twice is something entirely different, but considering the actual subject matter - which is kind of horrific - I imagine it would have been a nightmare to market otherwise. 

So I went into the film relatively cold, being only aware of the basic premise, in which enigmatic billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) hosts an elaborate days-long party on his own private island. Along with his friends, he appears smitten enough with waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) to invite her and her roommate, Jess (Alia Shawkat). For the first half of the film, these characters - five men, five women - enjoy elaborate meals, fun in the sun and endless amounts of drugs & booze.

We’ve actually seen this set-up plenty of times before…the protagonist lured into a seemingly idyllic location, where everything is fun and festive, at least until they begin to suspect something ain’t quite right. Blink Twice does a tremendous job luring its characters and the audience into a false sense of security, much of it perpetrated by King, who comes across as philosophical, caring and charismatic. But things take a dark turn when Jess disappears, and more ominously, no one but Frida is aware she was even there.

Smoke on the water.

At this point, I was half-expecting the narrative to take a direction similar to The Most Dangerous Game (arguably the granddaddy of stories like this). It’s also at this point I’ll refrain from revealing what’s actually going on because it’s best going into the film without being aware of what it’s ultimately about. I will say that director/co-writer Zoe Kravitz, however briefly, has more on her mind than just another psychological thriller, addressing themes that are unquestionably of current social relevance.

How successfully she accomplishes this, however, is certainly subjective. The narrative features a monstrous surprise, and as depicted, the revelation is effectively horrifying. But afterwards, it seems like Kravitz is content to simply move on and turn the film into just another revenge thriller. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that, especially since it’s handled quite well and, by this point, we’re invested in Frida’s character. But considering the psychological ramifications of what she (and others) endure, it’s kind of a shame how superficially those issues are addressed.

Then again, maybe that’s too much responsibility for a movie like this to be burdened with. As a thriller, Blink Twice works just fine, with solid performances from a loaded cast (Tatum & Ackie are especially good), many tension-filled moments and a bloody, revenge-fueled climax. However, some viewers might view it as a missed opportunity.