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Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for Blink TwiceBlink Twice, the directorial debut by Zoë Kravitz, is a twisted and gilded euphoric fancy that explores the horrors of power and sexual abuse. StarringChanning Tatumand Naomi Ackie,Blink Twiceis a wonderfully engrossing film that finely explores the depths of human depravity. A thrilling moment that combines both mystery and drama, the film offers a compelling view of the nature of abuse. However,it is only with a second look that the true cruelty of the characters is revealed in a stunning display that makes the film all the more harrowing.
A psychological thriller that has been praised by audiences and critics alike,Blink Twicefollows Frida, a cocktail waitress who unexpectedly finds herself invited to the island of mysterious billionaire Slater King. Accompanied by her best friend and a host of Slater’s friends, Frida embarks on a champagne-soaked adventure. What starts as an escapist romance is slowly revealed as a hellish nightmare of which the characters have no memory.
Blink Twice
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The Cruelty of a King in Blink Twice
The intense fascination of Slater King is intoxicating. In this role as the tech CEO and possible love interest for Frida,Tatum’s King embodies power with a striking presence. This makes his character all the more perilous. He is calm, eminently cool, and full of soul-deep looks that would make any romantic hero proud. This is charming at first viewing.Content warning aside, for the majority of the film, Slater presents himself as a gentleman. This is before his true nature as an assaulter and murderer is revealed. Once revealed, it is an almost stunning portrayal of how people can hide their true selves so easily.
Blink Twice Succeeds Where Saltburn Failed
With similar themes and intents, Blink Twice highlights Saltburn’s failures.
In a cruel irony, Frida notes that being on the island is the first time she feels seen. But on the second watch, those soul-deep glances of Slater’s have already been answered by the film the first time around.Slater marvels at the fact that Frida can just forget all the trauma that she has been through. Watching the movie again, it becomes clear that Slater’s admiration of her is an inner reflection of the effect of his own power to both have her and make her forget.Re-watching the characters' interactions with the knowledge of the true nature of their relationship shows how similar love and cruelty can look in hindsight.
A Second Viewing of Blink Twice Reveals the Horror in Plain Sight
Blink Twicewas initially titled ‘P*ssy Island,‘and though it is an accurate portrayal of the crux of the film, the change of moniker does the film a great service. The more withdrawn title allows the audience to step back from the violence as it pulls forward a veil of uncertainty over the horrific events. “There’s a version of this where we’re all still having a good time,” Tatum’s King opines. At first viewing, this assertion is outrageous. In the second viewing, it is an assault as the viewer has now watched through this experience with the awareness that the portion of this film they believed to be ‘a good time’ did not exist.It is, in the best way possible, a betrayal of the viewer’s perspective and mirrors the experience of the female characters as they discover the fault in their memories.
The powerful break of what is and what was believed to be is an ominous haunting overthe film at second viewing. With the knowledge of what is occurring behind the veil of champagne and raspberries, the events of the movie are rewritten in a horrifying manner. A too-long stretch of fabric on a goddess dress, an unexpected though timely costume change, the carefree running that never seems to go anywhere; all the innocuous fripperies that led to the fancy of before are unfurled as the sinister flags that had always been waving.
No longera fun bit of escapism, the film is the equivalent of the moment when the background music creeps up on unsuspecting innocents in horror films. In the foreground, everything appears fine, and the characters move about unaware. But in the background, the true danger creeps closer, and the tension builds as the viewer is left looking on in a prolonged mixture of pity, sadness, and resignation.
Blink Twice: What Was Really Happening on Slater’s Island?
The complex and twisting story of Blink Twice has left audiences wondering what it all meant. So let’s talk about what actually happened.
Blink Twiceis an excellent film and awonderful directorial debutfrom Kravitz. While the film is solid and engaging from its first view,the thriller is even better served the second time around as the hidden background moves in to fill in the missing pieces. Written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum,Blink Twicealso stars Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjouna, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, and Christian Slater.Blink Twicewas developed in partnership with Warner Brothers Pictures and Amazon Studios.It is exclusively available to watch in theaters right now.
