From 8/14/2024 press screening:
“Forgetting is a gift.”
Would you rather forget or remember your trauma? What if it tortures you with pain and suffering? Would you rather live a fabulous life but it's fantasy or a life with struggles but is real?
This thought-provoking theme has been explored before (“Don't Worry Darling,” “Shutter Island,” “Inception”), but Zoe Kravitz (“Insurgent”), in her daring directorial debut, proves that nothing is off limits. And if you blink too often, you'll miss the clues in “Blink Twice.”
Tech tycoon Slater King (Channing Tatum; “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Hail Caesar!”) blitz the news with apologies for his abuse of power for non-specified wrongdoing. He tells the word that he's sorry and in therapy, and will be taking a leave of absence, jetting off to his private island.
Frida (Naomi Ackie), is a cocktail waitress with a crush toward Slater, despite of his transgressions. She realizes how fortunate she is to run into and rub elbow with Slater at a glamorous gala for the King Tech Foundation. They hit it off when Frida has a mishap at the gala. Frida feels like floating in paradise when Slater invites her and her friend, Jess (Alia Shawkat) to join him in his private island, along with select guests. Sarah (Adria Arjona, “Hit Man”) is one of the female guests, who later will befriend Frida.
The tropical island is every bit of paradise. Private and secluded, where sunny days and dark nights blend in endless vacations. Immaculate all-white linens and flowing attires are provided, along with pleasant perfumes. Picture-perfect pools, pretentious parties, boundless booze, copious cigars, dazzling drugs, marvelous meals, and decadent dinners with a sea of candlelights. Frida doesn't want this to ever end – even with voluntarily confiscated cellphone and no connection to the outside world.
Everyone's living the dream. Or are they? There's something off about the island. Groundskeepers seem to be all mute, except for an elderly lady, who creepily keeps mouthing off a specific phrase to Frida, which may or may not have something do with slithering snakes. There's also a secret cottage that is closed for guests, although Frida can't help but snoops in.
Strange occurrences begin to happen, culminating in Jess' disappearance. Even far stranger, no other guests remember Jess. Frida couldn't remember how she got dirt under her fingernails. Sarah doesn't know a bruise appeared on her arm. They seem to have memory gaps and couldn't remember events.
If the vibe felt off before, it's ominous now. Underscored by a sinister score, spectacular turns into scary, particularly when they are cut off from the rest of the world. As far as who, what, when, why and how, these are best left untold. Ferocious fear and rampaging rage take over. Plot holes aside, venomous revelations and vicious revenges are best served cold. And the endmost vengeance is ghastly tied with a gold bow fit for a king.
“Knives Out: Glass Onion” meets “The Menu” and “Ready or Not,” “Blink Twice” is not for the meek of heart. Brutally disturbing; the macabre factor is off the charts.
Devilishly twisted psychological thriller with malevolent machinations, mind-blowing mind games and merciless manipulations. “Blink Twice” is savagely entertaining.