Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut “Blink Twice” hit theaters Aug. 23 and has proved to be one of the most interesting movies of 2024 thus far. This exceptionally well-done psychological thriller explores themes of trauma, betrayal, lust and greed through the lens of the main character Frida, all while she learns not everything is as it seems.
Frida, played by Naomi Ackie, is initially a naïve cocktail waitress with an intense attraction to tech billionaire Slater King, played by Channing Tatum. Frida and her co-worker, Jess, were on the job at an event hosted by the tech mogul; they decided to ditch their uniforms for gowns, attending the event as well. As they blend in amongst the billionaires, Frida collides with King. Kravitz does a great job of setting up Frida’s point of view; as the story moves along the audience can feel exactly how she does. King invites Frida and Jess to his infamous private island, inciting the conflict of this story.
Although the film heavily relies on plot and structure, the characters are deeply complex and well-written — leaving one confused about whether to hate or love them. Soon after Frida and Jess’s arrival, the tone of the “vacation” takes a dark turn. Confusion and abnormality become a repeated problem throughout the film’s second act continues to delve deeper as it introduces all the twists and shock factors.
Frida’s objective throughout the film is to uncover the truth about everyone and everything. She seeks to find out not only who she is, but who King is behind his public persona. The scenes that reveal what truly took place on the island are shocking and do not take the traditional direction of thrillers. The most impressive aspect about the film is its pace and how impactful the structure of the storytelling is to the plot. It utilizes a non-linear narrative, so with each scene, it feels like the audience was one step further from the whole truth. Similar films that use this structure can leave the audience more confused than they were before, resulting in a messy film. Kravitz and the entire crew behind the movie made sure each plot point was explained and proven.
Thriller and psychological film enthusiasts will appreciate the choices made throughout the film, and every actor and actress chosen did an exceptional job with the role they earned. 2024 has produced tons of films. This by far has been one that should be considered a masterpiece of its genre.
