Popcorn Perspectives by Danny Minton
Week of August 19, 2024
Blink Twice
Rated R for sexual assault, language throughout, drug use, some sexual references and strong violent content
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
In Theaters
Making her directorial debut is Zoe Kravitz with this twisted thriller about a poor waitress (Naomi Ackie) who decides to follow a reclusive billionaire (Channing Tatum) to his private island home, where no cell phones are allowed and an eclectic group of men and women are along for the ride. Upon arriving, it seems like pure paradise with a beautiful locale, great food and wine, and even some seemingly harmless recreational drugs. But then clues start to surface that all is not right with the situation. I wasn’t quite sure what to think about this one from the trailer. It definitely looks like it might have a violent spin and that things might be a little messed up. But I would have never guessed the reality of the story, which makes it very interesting and uncomfortable. I would say fun, but it is so disturbing that that would be a poor description of the events of this film. From the very beginning, the movie feels like a Jordan Peele adventure, where the movie isn’t actually about what the story is about. And there are many clues that this is the case. I can imagine a number of different explanations for the symbolism, and I really hope this is the best explanation. The cast here is solid, especially amongst the men, with Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Kyle McLachlan and Haley Joel Osment. The females are less well known, but Ackie is really good as the heroine on the hunt to figure things out and Geena Davis turns in a surprising performance as one of the billionaire’s assistants. I’m sure the plot twist will get out pretty quickly, and when it does, I wonder who the audience will be. It really doesn’t make for a good date movie and I don’t see a lot guys going to see it by themselves either, just for fear of looking and feeling creepy. Just from its very nature, it might not have much of a box office, but then I can see it getting views once it hits streaming. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good film. It’s just incredibly deranged and will make any viewer feel rather unbearable at moments. B