Overview: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island.

It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality.

There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive.

Blu-ray Verdict: Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice is a psychological thriller about a cocktail waitress named Frida (Naomi Ackie) whose life takes a sinister turn after the mysterious millionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) invites her to a private tropical island for an extravagant party.

The guests’ malign intents expose a vicious underbelly of power dynamics and exploitation, rapidly turning what seemed like a lovely holiday into a nightmare. A sense of intrigue and mystery permeates the picture as it delves into topics like sexual abuse and the intricacies of privilege and riches.

The goal of Kravitz’s ambitious directorial debut is to make a statement about current events, such as the #MeToo movement and society’s corruption. Still, there are times when it seems like the movie tries to do too much. Although the story is interesting, the timing is off, especially in the beginning when the celebratory mood lasts for much too long before the real suspense begins. This film’s gradual buildup could make you fidgety, but once it changes gears, it plunges into some terrifying areas that are hard to forget.

The performances stand out, particularly that of Ackie, who plays Frida with subtlety and bravery as the character faces the island’s horrors. Tatum demonstrates his acting versatility by playing a villain instead of the hero, a part that is more typical of him.

As the tale unfolds with progressively sinister turns, their chemistry gives complexity to the narrative. Alia Shawkat and Christian Slater are among the supporting actors who give strong performances, although not all of their roles are fully fleshed out.

Blink Twice looks amazing. The cinematography expertly portrays the island’s natural splendor while contrasting it with the ominous events that transpire. The color design is top-notch; the upbeat party scenes’ vivid hues stand in stark contrast to the darker, more somber ones that follow.

Kravitz’s direction is at its best during these scenes, which she masterfully crafts to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Some shifts felt too sudden and threw off the film’s flow, so maybe the editing could have been tighter.

The score is a nice fit for the film’s mood; it heightens the tension without taking away from the story. Despite occasionally veering into cliché territory and reiterating sounds heard in other thrillers, it does a good job of building tension during crucial moments.

The island represents the pretense of paradise that masks more sinister realities; this is only one example of the many symbolic meanings included in Blink Twice. The film’s blatant attack on affluence and privilege serves as a sobering reminder of the hidden costs of unregulated authority. The subtlety that would have enhanced the message is lost in the implementation, which can appear heavy-handed at times.

Although there are some problems with Blink Twice, it is nevertheless a fun and exciting film that deals with serious topics. The pace and character development are the main areas where the movie falls short, but the impressive graphics and stellar acting more than make up for it. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that delve into social critiques, you might enjoy this film as well.

In any case, you should brace yourself for a painful but wild trip. Even if it falls short of its potential, this ambitious but imperfect picture managed to make an impression on me. Are you in the mood for something that questions the norm while providing nail-biting excitement? This one fits the bill.

Oh, and a juicy little tidbit is that Zoë Kravitz started writing Blink Twice under the original working title Pussy Island in 2017. Kravitz intended on keeping this title for the film but a negative reception from the MPAA, women, and theaters lead to her changing it! [S.A.]