For the first hour of its runtime, Blink Twice is a fun, intriguing mystery/social thriller, along the lines of a breezier Get Out or a more debauched Glass Onion. When ambitious young Frida (Naomi Ackie) accepts an invitation to the private island of tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), it’s clear—arguably too clear—that things aren’t exactly as they seem. (Why do the island’s employees keep giving Frida knowing looks? Why can’t any of the women remember the previous nights? And what’s with that ominous bass riff?)
But first-time director and co-writer Zoë Kravitz (proving herself an able stylist) handles the material with a light touch to begin with, lingering on beautiful bodies, tropical cocktails, and the azure water of the swimming pool. Even as storm clouds gather, the tone is predominantly playful, even goofy: dicks get drawn on foreheads, party girls knock back snake venom tequila, and Adria Arjona shouts the phrase “fat bluuuuuunts!” as loudly as possible. The context may grow steadily more ominous (for instance, “fat blunts” is the code word to alert Frida of impending danger), but on the whole, Blink Twice remains a good time—for the first hour, anyway.
Then there’s that twist…
