Moving into the low budget, high concept space vacated by Jordan Peele, Zoë Kravitz delivers a twisty, gory thriller with a rousing grindhouse denouement. Artfully shot by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, and elevated by pithy dialogue crafted by Kravitz & E.T. Feigenbaum, this is a cracking directorial debut.
BAFTA winner Naomi Ackie heads up the picture, as Frida, the cocktail waitress invited by tech billionaire Channing Tatum at a fundraising gala to join him on his private island for a hedonistic vacation – a once in a lifetime opportunity she can’t pass up.
Frida takes her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) along for the ride. The high life ensues, as the girls laze by the pool, enjoy champagne and gourmet meals, and party all night with Tatum’s somewhat oddball friends, including Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, and Geena Davis.
But it soon becomes clear that things are not all they seem…
Artfully shot and elevated by pithy dialogue, this is a cracking directorial debut…
Blink Twice rewards those who catch it cold; cleverly constructed clues are there, but they’re cunningly placed. Part #Metoo commentary, part satire, it’s all shockingly entertaining.
The setting itself is atypical for a psychological horror movie – vibrant and lush. The film was shot in a hacienda in Yucatán, Mexico, a hotel where the cast both lived and shot during production. “It was very authentic,” says production designer Roberto Bonelli.
“This place is fantasy, like a full matrix,” says Kravitz, “I decided the most engaging and horrific way to tell this story was to isolate the characters. Take this ‘garden’ and turn it into an island – á la Lord Of The Flies.”
Because the movie is thematically dark, Kravitz worked with DoP Newport-Berra to make it look especially bright, to create a psychological thriller that feels bright and beautiful. The director wanted the beauty to feel “almost aggressive.”
Job done. I think you’ll want to watch it twice.
Blink Twice is directed by Zoë Kravitz, and stars Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat and Christian Slater. Rated 15, 102 minutes.
Half a century ago, a low-budget British-made musical about a sweet transvestite from Transylvania opened quietly and flopped. Today, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has grossed nearly $225 million and earned the distinction of being the longest-running theatrical release in history. And now fans are about to see an avalanche of fresh activity as the…
Horror fans are in for a treat this October, when Hammer classic The Curse of Frankenstein makes its worldwide 4K UHD debut in a lavish six-disc Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set, remastered from the best surviving elements. When The Curse of Frankenstein first opened in theatres in 1957, it scandalised critics and thrilled audiences in…
The Ivy is marking the release of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale with a limited edition menu inspired by the world of the Crawley family and their bustling household. Since its debut in 2010, Downton Abbey has become a global phenomenon, bringing the traditions and intrigues of early 20th-century English aristocracy to millions of viewers.…
The Luxe Review 
Moving into the low budget, high concept space vacated by Jordan Peele, Zoë Kravitz delivers a twisty, gory thriller with a rousing grindhouse denouement. Artfully shot by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, and elevated by pithy dialogue crafted by Kravitz & E.T. Feigenbaum, this is a cracking directorial debut.
BAFTA winner Naomi Ackie heads up the picture, as Frida, the cocktail waitress invited by tech billionaire Channing Tatum at a fundraising gala to join him on his private island for a hedonistic vacation – a once in a lifetime opportunity she can’t pass up.
Frida takes her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) along for the ride. The high life ensues, as the girls laze by the pool, enjoy champagne and gourmet meals, and party all night with Tatum’s somewhat oddball friends, including Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, and Geena Davis.
But it soon becomes clear that things are not all they seem…
Blink Twice rewards those who catch it cold; cleverly constructed clues are there, but they’re cunningly placed. Part #Metoo commentary, part satire, it’s all shockingly entertaining.
The setting itself is atypical for a psychological horror movie – vibrant and lush. The film was shot in a hacienda in Yucatán, Mexico, a hotel where the cast both lived and shot during production. “It was very authentic,” says production designer Roberto Bonelli.
“This place is fantasy, like a full matrix,” says Kravitz, “I decided the most engaging and horrific way to tell this story was to isolate the characters. Take this ‘garden’ and turn it into an island – á la Lord Of The Flies.”
Because the movie is thematically dark, Kravitz worked with DoP Newport-Berra to make it look especially bright, to create a psychological thriller that feels bright and beautiful. The director wanted the beauty to feel “almost aggressive.”
Job done. I think you’ll want to watch it twice.
Blink Twice is directed by Zoë Kravitz, and stars Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat and Christian Slater. Rated 15, 102 minutes.
It’s astounding: What to expect as The Rocky Horror Picture Show celebrates 50 years
Half a century ago, a low-budget British-made musical about a sweet transvestite from Transylvania opened quietly and flopped. Today, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has grossed nearly $225 million and earned the distinction of being the longest-running theatrical release in history. And now fans are about to see an avalanche of fresh activity as the…
Hammer horror classic The Curse of Frankenstein resurrected for 4K Blu-ray Collector’s Edition
Horror fans are in for a treat this October, when Hammer classic The Curse of Frankenstein makes its worldwide 4K UHD debut in a lavish six-disc Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set, remastered from the best surviving elements. When The Curse of Frankenstein first opened in theatres in 1957, it scandalised critics and thrilled audiences in…
Champagne and shepherd’s pie: The Ivy unveils limited edition menu to celebrate Downton Abbey finale
The Ivy is marking the release of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale with a limited edition menu inspired by the world of the Crawley family and their bustling household. Since its debut in 2010, Downton Abbey has become a global phenomenon, bringing the traditions and intrigues of early 20th-century English aristocracy to millions of viewers.…
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