As a seasoned movie enthusiast with decades of cinematic adventures under my belt, I must confess that Blink Twice left me feeling more bewildered than entertained. It’s akin to stumbling upon a forgotten box of old VHS tapes labeled “Mystery Movie” in a dusty attic.
This summer, Channing Tatum is dominating the scene. He shone in the hit romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon” and stole the show in another summer blockbuster. Interestingly, his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz, directed him in her first directorial project titled “Blink Twice,” originally known as “Pussy Island.” Despite initial reservations due to its controversial title, it’s unfortunate that the title was the least of people’s concerns after watching the movie.
In simpler terms, “Blink Twice” is a movie that’s full of intriguing concepts and ideas, but unfortunately, the script fails to deliver them effectively. This film can be quite frustrating since it appears to have a clear message, only for the execution to undermine itself. The main character, Frida (played by Naomi Ackie), is at a social gathering where Slater King (Tatum) will make an appearance. Slater invites Frida and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) to his private island for a supposedly enjoyable vacation filled with parties, drugs, and entertainment. However, the good times don’t last indefinitely as Frida starts noticing peculiar occurrences, suggesting that not everything is as it seems.
This movie, in my opinion, had the potential to surpass its current quality, yet it seems more like a less impressive version of other films. “Blink Twice” boasts some impressive camera work and shot selection from director Kravitz, hinting at her potential. Unfortunately, the screenplay, co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, appears to draw heavily from movies such as “Get Out” and “The Stepford Wives.” The island setting is reminiscent of “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” while certain scenes resemble “The White Lotus,” “Saltburn,” “Don’t Worry Darling,” and even “Cuckoo,” which we saw recently. In essence, every aspect of this film feels like a rehashing of something we have already experienced.
In this case, the problem lies with the rhythm of the story. The initial part of the film lacks sufficient tension or excitement. While we’re on the island and encounter some unusual findings and occurrences, they fail to captivate us as much as they should. It doesn’t keep us on the edge of our seats. Instead, we’re mostly anticipating something unpleasant. There are numerous instances where crucial information is set up in a way that feels too obvious, suggesting it will significantly impact the plot later. The script lacks subtlety, making the storyline predictable.
Initially, some concepts presented in this film seem unusual and disjointed. However, after a string of expected introductions, Blink Twice starts to unravel the mystery, hinting at the underlying intrigue. As the truth unfolds, it becomes increasingly ominous and graphic, to the extent that the movie becomes less enjoyable and more disturbing. The narrative carries a heavy undertone, offering a chilling reflection of the actions men might take if they think they can evade consequences.
As a fan, I must admit that while Blink Twice aimed for humor, it fell flat for me most of the time. The occasional chuckles from the opening night crowd were about as much laughter as it managed to elicit. The script seemed to be striving for an entertaining and crowd-pleasing vibe, but the dialogue needed more bite to truly achieve that goal. There were moments where it shone, but the overall narrative and cinematography left a bitter aftertaste that made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the situation.
Upon unveiling, it becomes clear that we’ve gleaned very little about Frida as an individual or her motivations. The film offers some insights into Slater, his preference for forgetting over forgiving being a recurring theme. However, most characters seem rather ordinary and can become grating after prolonged exposure, particularly due to their frequent drunkenness throughout the movie. In the climax, boundaries are established, and it’s clear who stands as heroes and villains. Unfortunately, this is where the film began to lose my interest even more.
The film includes some satisfactory scenes, but certain characters receive payback that feels fitting. Still, numerous moments seem contrived, and the impact falls short of the intended mark. Repeated jump scares lose their effectiveness due to overuse, sometimes even inducing laughter. The final two minutes of Blink Twice provoke deep ethical dilemmas about the film’s message, as upon reflection, it may appear distasteful and fail to evoke the emotional response the movie aims for.
We’ve overlooked numerous open-ended queries and loose ends in the storyline. While many concepts are resolved, some minor details remain unclear. The surprising turn at the end effectively engages the audience, but the movie sometimes appears inconsistent. For instance, the poster highlights a character using a Polaroid camera, which seems incongruous considering that the film revolves around forgetting. This feature seems to be included merely so that certain characters can leave traces for others to discover.
During the climax, the overall mood is chaotic, with characters seeming to belong in different genres at times. The atmosphere is tense and terrifying, akin to a thriller, yet there are moments that feel like a lighthearted screwball comedy. One character’s actions make you think of a scene from The Purge, where things go hilariously awry. It takes a turn for the worse when we encounter a villain who excessively monologues and a moment that should have been serious but instead provided the most popularly meme-worthy content of the year.
In some parts, the editing seems unusual, leaving one with a sense that important details might be missing. The pace varies erratically between quick and slow, which can be disconcerting. Additionally, the humor feels misplaced in several instances. Despite its intention to empower women, “Blink Twice” manages to achieve this at times, but overall, it’s hard to enjoy the movie due to certain questionable aspects, particularly the final two minutes which raise eyebrows. While Kravitz effectively creates a chilling atmosphere, the film is not compelling enough for repeated viewings as many potential strengths are squandered.
SCORE: 3/10
According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a rating of 3 means “Bad.” This media is challenging due to numerous problems, making it feel more like a tedious task rather than an enjoyable experience.
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2024-08-27 00:40