Blink Twice Review: Zoe Kravitz's Thrilling Debut Has An Ace Up Its Sleeve

welcome back to the wandering screen I'm Matt Carson today we're diving into blink twice the new film from director Zoe [Music] krabit blink twice is absolutely riveting and I want to start by setting the stage for you I'll be talking about the craft of the film why I wasn't convinced by Channing T's per performance and what makes the editing so important so here's a clip to immerse yourself in the film's vibe and structure fasty go off HSV oh I knew it you were on hot Survivor babes eighty Seasons y you at for on that show well they eded a lot of [ __ ] out and I did what I had to do to survive that's how you win you want some coconut water you okay you okay blink twice was written by ET Fagen BM and Zoe Kravitz and is the directorial debut for Kravitz directorial debut my first anything is nowhere near as accomplished here's a list of what I haven't done well the first time around baking a cake riding a skateboard accounting and microeconomics at University soccer goalie watching Game of Thrones I've seen four episodes of the first season and the entire last season and that's it Kravitz has a strong confident voice guiding us and it's another successful actor to direct a transition this year after Dev Patel's monkey man Naomi Aki STS as Freda a cocktail waitress working with her friend Jess Leah shat at an exclusive event for Tech billionaire SL super apologetic very sincere and trying to be redeemed for poor past Behavior Slater King Channing Tatum Freda desperate to meet him tries her luck infiltrating the event after clocking off and she marches into to the VIP event High heill snaps off and she falls brutally to the floor who is there to pick her up Mr SLA King ever a gentleman who nurses Freda before inviting her and Jess to his private island with a slew of guests including private Chef Cody Simon Rex photographer sbag Vic Christian Slater DJ Tom Haley Joel Osman and Survivor adjacent contestant Sarah Adria Arjona what starts as freedom and Jess enjoying a lavish lifestyle with free flowing white garments and Luscious massages soon turns into Freda having strange encounters like with a maid who calls her Red Rabbit as the honeymoon period starts wearing off an unknown number of days pass Freeda start to unravel something more disturbing the film is gorgeous cinematographer Adam Newport Bearer finds an uncomfortable Intimacy in closeup shots he holds on performances so we see mixed with pure Terror the angles of the shots also generate a sense of fear and discomfort in an otherwise opulent setting cinematically it's fascinating to watch the movement of the camera like as the women Sprint across a football field siiz lawn until they stop and wonder why they were running in the first place or when guests are dancing poolside seduced by the music and grooving across the space the camera moves in ways that gives the perspective of being being chased and of being observed editor Katherine J schuber really showcases the intention of an edit in crafting not only the mystery but the pacing of the story scenes that interrupted mid conversation night changes today abruptly and it's like time has passed and has stayed the same so much work has gone into the construction of this story and that Distortion makes for a really exciting viewing experience because you're constantly Wonder wondering how to interpret the clues sprinkled like a lighter that is constantly disappearing or how wine stains can mysteriously disappear blink twice doesn't look too closely into the separation of class and race but it does have a lot to say and the fact that it doesn't smack you over the head with its thesis is fun interpret it how you will kravits and vagan B are showing us what is happening already in our society Jeffrey Epstein by way of a Fantastical nightmare in a uniquely observant and horrifying approach the casting is pretty on point because while celebrity filled like a Wes Anderson film the actor to character casting makes total sense Naomi AK is building a dynamic career after playing wh Houston in the biop Pig I want to dance with somebody and is completely mesmerizing as the fragile Freda her chemistry with Aaliyah shat is actually one of the highlights of the film east west east Hitman Adria AR Jonah is really strong too particularly as she struggles to maintain composure at the dining table as she's asked if she's having fun late in the film it's really funny I'm still not on board the Channing Tatum train I've enjoyed his performances but always as an actor with the same performance in every film a late scene where the actor repeats the same two words over and over is unconvincing he was almost too obvious in a film that straddles the line of prct ability and I can't say I was swept by his Charisma also was it just me or did he look like he was moving in slow motion I was thinking about Blink twice long until the next day it has a pretty meaty twist but honestly the best part is getting to the reveal this is a very bold debut and it's going to have great rewatch value and I can't wait to discover all the little Clues I missed along the way who's there I'm going for the folds keep a look out oh my [Music] God what are we going to do about you thank you for watching subscribe to my YouTube channel for all the latest film and TV reviews and let me know in the comment section below what you thought of the film see you next time [Music]