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.
The British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE) rolled out the red carpet at its new venue, The Londoner, for the 46th annual BASE Awards, bringing together distributors, retailers, platforms, agencies and production partners from across the home entertainment sector. Hosted by Ayo Akinwolere, I Swear and Wicked were the big winners on the night. Studiocanal’s…
Batman’s Batpod, Indiana Jones’ fedora and Jon Snow’s Longclaw sword are among more than 1,400 pieces of screen history heading to auction this December. Propstore is preparing a blockbuster sale for film and television collectors, with its Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction bringing together an estimated £10 million worth of original props, costumes and production…
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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.
I Swear and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms shine at the 46th BASE home entertainment trade awards
The British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE) rolled out the red carpet at its new venue, The Londoner, for the 46th annual BASE Awards, bringing together distributors, retailers, platforms, agencies and production partners from across the home entertainment sector. Hosted by Ayo Akinwolere, I Swear and Wicked were the big winners on the night. Studiocanal’s…
Superman suit and Batman’s Batpod lead blockbuster £10 million film memorabilia auction
Batman’s Batpod, Indiana Jones’ fedora and Jon Snow’s Longclaw sword are among more than 1,400 pieces of screen history heading to auction this December. Propstore is preparing a blockbuster sale for film and television collectors, with its Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction bringing together an estimated £10 million worth of original props, costumes and production…
Cù Bòcan Creation #9 is a 17 Year Old Highland whisky with a sweet and salty cinematic twist
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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