Blink Twice is a 2024 psychological thriller co-written and directed by Zoë Kravitz, who is making her debut as a feature filmmaker. The film came out in theaters on August 23, 2024, and described as “stylish” combines aesthetics with dark social commentary. It has a star-studded cast led by Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum. It deals with power and manipulation, memory and even the aftermath of abuse while set in an island paradise.
Amazon MGM Studios produced the film, which premiered at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. The film’s bold tone and artistic vision, alongside its disturbing subject matter, sparked a lot of buzz.
Plot Summary
The story starts with Frida, a young woman working as a cocktail waitress and nail artist, who goes to an exclusive fundraising event in Los Angeles. There, she meets the charming tech billionaire Slater King played by Channing Tatum. Slater, who is known for his charm and philanthropic persona, invites Frida and her friend Jess to join him and his circle on a private island getaway.
As Frida is swept away into a new world filled with overflowing riches and grand assets, she gets an idea that the entire island is a luxurious utopia, with delicious food, never-ending pristine beaches, and an eternal rhythm of pleasure dubbed ‘The Harmony of Slavery.’ The group of guests which consisted mainly of Slater’s associates were very welcoming and everyone seemed to enjoy their perfect escape from reality. The line between reality and fantasy fades away with designer perfumes, mind-altering fragrances, exotic stimulants, and euphoric parties.
But it turns out that perfection was just a disguise for far more sinister reasons that slowly begin to reveal themselves. Starts infamously with odd random occurrences and for more menacing, continues with Frida noticing increasingly erratic behavior, as well as annotating her memory coming apart like a jigsaw puzzle piece. Comfortable Jess gets uncomfortable to the point of getting sick from a snake bite before vanishing completely. When Frida wonders about her, she is met with the shocking realization that not a single person remembers her being there.
And then as truth settles in, all that is left is to connect the dots and find out the miserable reality of what world’s treasures were turned out to be violated by. In this case it’s waaay more surprising than luxurious, left with Frida discovering this elaborate plan where women are drugged with very selective and designed plant fragrances used to exploit them. Branded under ‘freedom of control’ literally everything of theirs is erased right under their noses, their memories hijacked and crafted into perfection or useless self-loathing slaves.
To reclaim control over her life while saving others, Frida partners with another woman from the island, Sarah. Drawing on the same venom that had poisoned Jess, they seek to reawaken their memories. As the fog lifts, the violence that had been suffered is vividly recalled, enabling them to unleash vengeance upon their captors.
In the cathartic and violent climax, Frida and Sarah inject the men with hallucinogens as a means to reclaiming control. Many perpetrators paradoxically perish at the hands of the women or through delusional self-sabotage. The remaining Slater and the subdued men are left broken and devoid of sanity.
The film now propels itself into the future. Frida sits with Slater, her husband. To her advantage, she is now the head of his corporation, baffled at how effortlessly she controls the structure of power that once dominated her. Surreal and strikingly calm, she is composed atop the frame of the final shot, embodying the ambiguous narrative of dominion and survival.
The Cast and Performances
As Frida, Naomi Ackie gives a powerful performance that is emotionally resonant as she depicts a woman caught between seduction and survival. Her character’s development from curiosity to terror, and ultimately, to vengeance is both compelling and deeply moving.
Channing Tatum, as Slater King, surprises in a role that diverts from his usual charm. King is a deeply corrupt man, despite his wealth and status. Tatum’s performance carefully balances his trademark charm with a measure of menace.
Arjona is joined in the strong supporting cast by Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Geena Davis, Haley Joel Osment, and Kyle MacLachlan. Each of them plays a role as a figure of power, manipulation, or complicity.
Directing Style and Visual Elements
The color choices, sound, and camera movements reflect the characters’ psychological states. The first scenes are fluid and golden, portraying the characters’ psychological state. As the tension builds, angering the audience and the characters simultaneously, the visuals become harsh and staccato, using couple disorienting angles.
Although influenced by Get Out, Eyes Wide Shut, and Midsommar, Kravitz carves out her own voice and weaves her own narrative, one centered on contemporary issues of consent, power, and gendered violence.
The score and sound design in the film, as in other works, serve essential functions, shaping the viewer’s emotions. As the narrative shifts from seduction to horror, the accompanying music evolves from dreamy synths to sharp, striking percussion.
Themes and Symbolism
Memory and Consent: The film’s primary metaphor involves the manipulation of memory. Control is maintained through the removal of memories. Restoration of memory is an act of defiance and reclamation of self—in this case, control.
Power and Complicity: This narrative examines privilege and its critique alongside elite entitlement. It interrogates the enabling structures of powerful masculinity—many of the characters on the island, while not active agents, are passive enablers of violence.
Feminist Vengeance: Frida’s arc is a departure from the conventional “final girl” characterization, taking on a multi-dimensional interpretation. She does not merely survive; she actively dismantles the systems that sought to structure her as a victim.
Duality of Paradise: The island is portrayed as utopian, yet conceals a dystopian reality underneath, showing how that which is beautiful and luxurious can conceal great evil.
Critical Reception
Blink Twice holds an aggregate score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics considered Frida’s rebranding into a mute activist and antagonist as a bold decision. Kravitz’s direction received praise alongside Ackie’s performance and the greater willingness of the film to tackle difficult themes through stylization. Many critics, however, noted greater concerns with inconsistencies with the film’s tone, particularly the shift from psychological thriller to full-blown revenge horror.
The audience responses were more mixed. While some praised the film for its bold and vital feminist articulations, others were put off by its hyper-violence and dreamlike surrealism. The last reveal, where Frida takes a powerful position, turned out to be the most divisive; some readers found it cathartic while others deemed it morally dubious.
Regardless of its divisive nature, the film sparked conversation on social media, particularly surrounding the commentary it offered about post-#MeToo society and how it approached the issue of consent.
Box Office and Awards
Blink Twice grossed over $48 million worldwide with an estimated production budget of $20 million. Although the film had a slow start at the box office, it rapidly gained traction, especially among viewers of psychological thrillers and feminist films.
In the awards season of 2024-2025, the film received numerous nominations, including Best Score and Best Cinematography at various festivals. Naomi Ackie gained praise from multiple critics’ groups, while Zoë Kravitz won accolades for Best Directorial Debut.
Conclusion
Provocative, stylish, and filled with raw emotion, Zoë Kravitz’s cinematic debut is an audacious statement. Focused and intensely beautiful, her film lacks any form of apology—whether for its visuals or confrontational nature as it explores the complex and urgent themes of power, trauma, and survival infused with artistic grace and brutal fierceness.
Although the film’s violent content and unorthodox style may not make it universally loved, there is no denying the film’s ambition and its underlying message. Blink Twice is a necessary watch for anyone interested in feminist stories, psychological thrillers, or remarkable directorial debuts. It cements Kravitz’s status as a new and fearless voice in film, unafraid to wade into the sinister depths hidden beneath the glamorous façade of life.
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