AtanariaI wanted to love Blink Twice. After all, comparisons to Get Out set the bar high, promising a smart, socially conscious thriller that would linger in the mind long after the credits rolled. Instead, Blink Twice became, quite possibly, one of the biggest disappointments of all time, leaving audiences like me reeling from the sheer magnitude of its failure.
Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, co-written with some other equally inexperienced writers, seems to have emerged from the depths of nepotism. It’s difficult to believe this film would have ever been greenlit without her Hollywood lineage. What we get is an incoherent blend of Knives Out-style aesthetics and a heavy-handed message that stumbles at every turn.
A Cast as Thin as Paper
The film centers around Frida, played by Naomi Ackie, who unfortunately is given a character so lackluster, it’s hard to muster any interest or empathy for her. Ackie does her best with the material, but Frida’s bland personality and unremarkable backstory leave her floating aimlessly in a sea of indifference.
Channing Tatum as Slater King, the billionaire island owner, delivers a performance that is both lifeless and uninspired. His portrayal is a vacuum of energy, pulling every scene into a dull abyss. Despite the attempts to portray King as a sinister force, Tatum’s performance is so devoid of charisma that he fails to make any impact beyond inducing yawns.
The supporting cast fares no better. Each character is a forgettable caricature, lacking any depth or originality. There’s no one to root for, no one to despise, just a parade of personalities as flat as the script they were plucked from.
A Misguided Message
The plot of Blink Twice ventures into disturbing territory with its depiction of women brought to an island under the guise of a luxurious getaway, only to be subjected to memory-erasing assaults by their wealthy captors. It’s a concept that could have been a harrowing exploration of power and control but is instead mishandled to the point of trivializing the very issues it attempts to highlight.
Kravitz’s directorial choices clash with the film’s dark themes. The vibrant, colorful visuals, presumably intended to offset the sinister undertones, instead create a dissonance that makes the film’s serious moments feel hollow and insincere. The movie seems to want to send a message about the dangers of unchecked privilege and power, but its execution is so superficial that it fails to say anything meaningful.
An Exercise in Privilege
From start to finish, Blink Twice reeks of being a vanity project, born from a place of privilege rather than creativity. It’s as if the film’s creation was more about providing Kravitz and Tatum with a tropical playground under the guise of filmmaking rather than delivering a thoughtful, engaging narrative.
The pacing is another major flaw. With long stretches of the film filled with nothingness, viewers are left to wade through an agonizingly slow buildup to a payoff that never arrives. The supposed tension fizzles out, leaving behind a trail of frustration.
The Verdict : A Hard Pass
In a year with its share of cinematic disappointments, Blink Twice manages to carve out a special place as one of the worst. The combination of a lackluster script, uninspired performances, and a bungled message makes this film an unmitigated disaster. If you find yourself contemplating whether to watch it, do yourself a favor and blink twice — then turn away. There are far better ways to spend your time, even if it’s just by taking a nap during the film’s runtime.
