Tracker Pixel for Entry

​‘Blink Twice’ sees Kravitz on the other side of the camera

Cinema | August 26th, 2024

By Greg Carlson

gregcarlson1@gmail.com

Working from a screenplay she co-wrote with E.T. FeigenbaumZoë Kravitz adds a significant new line to her resume with feature directorial debut “Blink Twice." The gender-focused thriller opens with a trigger warning that tips audience members to the central issue ahead: disturbing depictions of sexual violence will challenge viewers who may have thought the trailer portended some kind of equally sinister satire of the filthy rich in the vein of “Triangle of Sadness,” “Saltburn,” or any number of other displays of ostentatious lifestyle/wealth porn.

The movie’s title was changed from the more shocking and provocative “Pussy Island” in January. Kravitz has spoken at some length about the switch, suggesting that both the Motion Picture Association and potential ticket buyers were reluctant to embrace what could be perceived as a vulgarity — despite Kravitz’s intention to “reclaim the word.” Undoubtedly, the original title would have been much tougher commercial sledding than the more generic “Blink Twice” (which, in context, works well enough). But embedded within the first draft is a tacit nod to “Pedophile Island,” one of the nicknames for the private destination of Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful acquaintances.

Kravitz’s real-life partner Channing Tatum plays tech billionaire Slater King, who invites Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) to join a small group of King’s friends at his personal paradise. King’s entourage includes a curious assortment of sycophants and hangers-on, played by actors including Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, and an underused Geena Davis. Shortly after arrival, the Xanadu-like ecstasies give way to Frida’s concern that things are not what they seem. At its best, “Blink Twice” plays with the confusion and disequilibrium that accompanies drug-induced incapacitation and memory loss. These dimensions will remain the movie’s scariest components as Frida begins to piece together the details of her personal nightmare.

In my original review of Coralie Fargeat’s “Revenge,” I acknowledged the scholarship of Carol Clover, Jacinda Read, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and Claire Henry to point out the complexities and challenges of the rape-revenge form, which must balance the potentially exploitative spectacle of the act of violation with the journey from victimhood to vengeance. Does Kravitz successfully avoid reinforcing patriarchal violence once several of her story twists have played out? The resolution of “Blink Twice,” somewhat strained by the mayhem that immediately precedes it as well as the consequences for King, will split viewers.

Even though “Blink Twice” can and should be considered alongside other rape-revenge movies, the recent film it resembles most closely is Jordan Peele’s own directorial debut, “Get Out.” Peele’s is definitely the more successful, but both movies examine race, class, and power with style and smarts. Kravitz, who grew up on movie sets, demonstrates that she has absorbed many lessons from the filmmakers who have directed her. “Blink Twice” introduces just the right hints of menace within the too-good-to-be-true rapture of a tropical utopia where every whim is indulged and every desire fulfilled. Kravitz’s own celebrity dynasty bona fides suggest some level of authentic familiarity with the sweet life, but she also makes a compelling argument that the ugliness of rape culture affects every level of socio-economic status.  

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.com The business of Indian Hating is a lucrative one. It’s historically been designed to dehumanize Native people so that it’s easier to take their land. ‘Kill the Indian, save the man,”…

By Michael M. Millermichael.miller@ndsu.eduI was pleased to visit with many colleagues and at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society Convention in Mandan in July, and at the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia…

October 4-20, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.Theatre B, 210 10th St. N in MoorheadThis funny, earnest and hopeful play is a breath of fresh air heading into election season. Playwright Heidi Schreck paid for her…

Happy 30th Birthday HPRBy John Strandjas@hpr1.comThirty years ago some gutsy UND student journalists hanging at Whitey’s in East Grand Forks got enough liquid courage to create their own damn newspaper. Then with drinks raised,…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhere will the homeless go when billionaires go to their bunkers?Icelanders are living almost on top of volcanos but are cooled by ice, snow, and placid attitudes while hiding a keen sense of…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com In this land of hotdish and ham, the knoephla soup of German-Russian heritage seems to reign supreme. In my opinion though, the French have the superior soup. With a cheesy top layer, toasted baguette…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Like any metropolitan area, Fargo-Moorhead has a plethora of radio stations representing a variety of musical genres and other content. And like any other playing field in the world of…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer-director Nicole Riegel’s sophomore feature “Dandelion” is now playing in theaters following a world premiere at South by Southwest in March. The movie stars KiKi Layne as the…

By HPR Contributorssubmit@hpr1.com They are the inventive, passionate, adaptable, resourceful, sometimes over-enthusiastic, wack-tacular people who create art in our community, and they’re opening their studio doors to you for…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By John Showalter  john.d.showalter@gmail.comThey sell fentanyl test strips and kits to harm-reduction organizations and…

JANUARY 19, 1967– MARCH 8, 2023 Brittney Leigh Goodman, 56, of Fargo, N.D., passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 8, 2023. Brittney was born January 19, 1967, to Ruth Wilson Pollock and Donald Ray Goodman, in Hardinsburg,…

By Jim Fugliejimfuglie920@gmail.com“The first thing we do is, let’s kill all the lawyers.”You might recall that memorable line, uttered by Dick the Butcher, from perhaps the least memorable of Shakespeare’s plays, “Henry…