“Are you having a good time?”

The abuse of power. This is a disturbing issue that continues to be prevalent, with many men in the film industry (along with those who have high-profile connections) using their power to take advantage of women. Only recently has accountability begun to be held for these predatory figures. Even then, some never face significant repercussions, and justice is never served to the victims. “Blink Twice” tackles these themes head-on. 

The directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, “Blink Twice” focuses on Frida (played by Naomi Ackie) and Jess (played by Alia Shawkat), two women who encounter billionaire tech mogul Slater King (played by Channing Tatum) at a gala being held by his company and are soon invited to his private island. Immediately after arriving, things start to seem off.

As Slater King, Channing Tatum portrays a prominent figure who has avoided the limelight for quite some time after apologizing for something left to the viewer’s speculation. His performance is truly fantastic and is one of the standout aspects of the film.  

Naomi Ackie is quite great as Frida, delivering an excellent performance as this cocktail waitress who attracts Slater’s attention. One of the highlights of her performance is during the film’s second act, in a sequence where she is looking for her friend, being rife with emotion.  

“Blink Twice” also features several supporting performances from a unique ensemble cast of performers. Adria Arjona portrays Sarah, a contestant on a more exploitative version of the reality show “Survivor.” Arjona (who most recently starred in a leading role in Richard Linklater’s comedy “Hit Man”) delivers an excellent performance, with a highlight of this performance being a sequence with her and Frida during the second act. Some of the other standouts in the film’s cast include Simon Rex (who was recently the lead in Sean Baker’s 2021 dark comedy “Red Rocket”) as Cody (a cook), Kyle MacLachlan (who portrays Rich, Slater’s therapist), Christian Slater as Vic (who is constantly taking photos of everyone with an instant camera), and Haley Joel Osment as Tom.

Photo from the “Blink Twice” movie. (Contributed/Reddit)

In her first foray with directing, Zoë Kravitz dives the viewer into a world drenched in its pure putridness. Kravitz (who also co-wrote the screenplay with E.T. Feigenbaum) has crafted a film that tackles the themes of assault, abuse, trauma, and power dynamics — under the guise of a thriller that warrants the trigger warning before the beginning of the film. 

One of the strongest aspects of “Blink Twice” comes in the form of its soundtrack, with tracks such as James Brown’s “The Boss” (recorded for the soundtrack of Larry Cohen’s 1973 blaxploitation film “Black Caesar”) being featured in the film.  

Adam Newport-Berra, the film’s cinematographer, captures some truly fantastic shots. These include a close-up shot of a lizard at the beginning of the film and some wide shots of Slater’s villa on the island. His cinematography contributes to the more unnerving aspects of the film, with some of the more tense sequences featuring some truly standout camerawork.

The unnerving atmosphere extends to the set design, creating an environment that seems off throughout the film’s runtime. This is seen during the scenes at the gala, with the stark white room contrasting with the red tablecloths and the buildings at Slater’s estate on the island.  

However, “Blink Twice” is a film that is not without its issues, the biggest of which is its tone. At times, the second half of the film (especially in the second act) feels like a tonal mess, with the usage of one-liners and humor feeling out of place (considering the film’s subject matter). While the screenplay has a unique concept, the execution is both a hit and a miss at points.   

With “Blink Twice,” Zoë Kravitz delivered a promising directorial debut in the form of a terrifying thriller with an unnerving plot and great performances. While tonally, it can be a hit and a miss at points, it is overall a pretty good film.

Blink twice if you are in danger. 

“Blink Twice” is currently playing in theaters.

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