BLINK TWICE
Starring: Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel, Levon Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, and Geena Davis
Director: Zoë Kravitz
PAIGE
Despite exploring some heavy themes, director Zoë Kravitz skillfully weaves and executes them to create a fresh and entertaining viewing experience, even if the concept may not be entirely original. Blink Twice does a fantastic job of showcasing a twisted nightmare that is both hilarious and disturbing. With its flawless editing, clever script, and outstanding cast, this movie may be one of the biggest surprises of the year. I am very much looking forward to seeing what Kravitz does next behind the camera because Blink Twice is a promising directorial debut.
QUENTIN
Reminiscent of both The Menu and Get Out, although not near as good, Blink Twice is a generally worthwhile “rich people suck” thriller. That said, the pacing isn’t great. If not for the trailer, you wouldn’t have any idea that this is a psychological mystery thriller for the first hour. There are very few idiosyncrasies, telltale signs, or tension-building moments hinting that something might be amiss until someone just randomly suggests it, at which point it suddenly becomes suspenseful for an excellent third act. On the plus side, director Zoë Kravitz has a terrific ear for great needle drops and a tremendous eye behind the camera.
AMARÚ
Blink Twice is an indulgent fever trip that held me at the edge of my seat, with writer/director Zoë Kravitz gripping hold and squeezing tighter with every passing minute. Add in brilliant sound design, pitch-perfect music, and award-worthy editing from Kathryn J. Schubert, and the striking overall direction becomes its own brilliant character standing tall amidst an absolutely stacked cast. Naomi Ackie, Adria Arjona, and Alia Shawkat lead the captivating ensemble through a whirlwind story that is intense, hilarious, thought-provoking, and keeps you constantly guessing for what is one of the most surprising and entertaining movies of the year. Whatever Kravitz does next, I’m in, sight unseen.
PRESTON
Blink Twice is a refreshing endeavor that takes advantage of a fantastic cast, including an always cool Channing Tatum (Slater) and Naomi Ackie (Frida), who wins me over by the end of the film with a solidly charismatic performance. Writer-director Zoë Kravitz uses dark humor (my favorite) in the larger context of championing feminine power within a recognizably predatory world. That said, the party phase of the film drags too long before finally revealing the more troublesome components, but this psychological thriller remains within the top class of films this year, especially given the relatively drab offerings so far.
ADRIANO
Blink Twice has way too much wasted potential. In the director's seat, Zoë Kravitz shows she has a knack behind the camera, delivering shot compositions that always look good, which helps in making the movie successfully intense. That said, its commentary on the uber-wealthy and weirdo islandmen is paper thin, resulting in the film's twists and reveals coming off as an attempt at being the next Get Out. It fails to understand what made that film so effective, so it winds up feeling like it was for all cheap shock value. There are nuggets of greatness here, but not enough.
