TL;DR – This is a profoundly uncomfortable film that grabs onto you and refuses to let go until the credits roll.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I was invited to a screening of this film.

WARNING – Scenes in this film will cause distress.

Blink Twice Review –

Wow, rarely has there been a film when I felt the need to debrief with people to process what we just watched. However, that is the film we are looking at today. A movie that I had to catch myself from letting out an expletive during the session. This is not an easy film to watch.

So, to set the scene, Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) work as waiters at big fancy events in New York City. One such event is being chaired by Slater King (Channing Tatum), a billionaire doing a redemption campaign after being forced out of his company due to rampant harassment. Frida and Jess slip into some cocktail dresses and sneak into the event when Slater takes a fancy to them. Before you can say it, they are on a plane to his fancy private island, full of all sorts of debauchery. All the girls are having a blast with the endless champagne, fancy food, and anything they could want. It is just that something here does not feel right.

I am going to hold off on discussing the themes of the film for a bit because they are a lot to get into. However, before that, I want to talk about the cast. This is not a large cast at all, and every single person is giving their all. There are some strong emotions throughout the film, and every single person is nailing their performance. Naomi Ackie is the centre point of the proceedings, and she is captivating every moment she is on stream. Quite often, this is happening in extreme close-ups, so there is nowhere to hide. Adria Arjona was excellent and the anchor for a lot of the film. We get Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Christian Slater walking into the movie and capturing a scene. Oh, and also, I think this is Channing Tatum’s best work to date.

Blink Twice is also fantastic at setting a mood. Thanks to real-world events, right from the start, you know that going to a billionaire’s private island might not be the best plan. But the film is always trying to off-balance you with its setting, with the way it is filmed, and in the way they edit the film to make you lose track of time and place. Because you can never get your footing, you are constantly feeling uncomfortable with what is going on. Why are they always talking about the chickens? This is even before the illicit substances come out, and lines get blurred. That offputting mood is supported by sets and locations that are both opulent and unnerving.          

However, while I was engaged for the whole time, I think it is time for us to address the elephant in the room. There is a reason that I have a stonking big warning at the top of this review. A lot of this film is deeply unsettling, with elements of coercion and control. The things that you have been primed to know go on in places like this. While this would already make it difficult to watch at times, it does. The film escalates it even further, with some explicit depictions of events that come without warning, like a thematic slap to the face. It was one of those moments when you felt the entire cinema shift in an instant. I understand why it is there, but goodness.       

In the end, do we recommend Blink Twice? That is a tricky question to answer. Firstly, because for a debut director, Zoë Kravitz knocks it out of the park. Add to this the essential themes to explore today, some of the lighter moments that make it all gel, and some stellar performances, and you have a lot to recommend. However, this is a lot to get through, and a lot of that is deeply unsettling. If you liked Blink Twice, we would recommend to you Get Out.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Blink Twice?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 


Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Blink Twice
Directed by – Zoë Kravitz
Written by – Zoë Kravitz & E.T. Feigenbaum
Music by – Chanda Dancy
Cinematography by – Adam Newport-Berra
Edited by – Kathryn J. Schubert
Production/Distribution Companies – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Free Association, Bold Choices, Amazon MGM Studios, Universal Studios & Warner Bros. Pictures
Starring – Naomi Ackie, Adria Arjona, Alia Shawkat, Levon Hawke, Geena Davis, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment & Kyle MacLachlan with Cris Costa, María Elena Olivares, Saul Williams & Tiffany Persons
Rating – Australia: MA15+; Canada: 14A; Germany: 16; New Zealand: R; United Kingdom: 15; United States: R