Blink Twice

“They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do. You child.”

Blink Twice snuck in and out of theaters this summer, but I hope that more people give it a watch now that it’s on VID, because it’s one of the best horror movies of the year! Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut, co-written by E.T. Feigenbaum, is expertly crafted and executed. The writing is excellent, the acting is on point, and the story is brutal in a way that will sneak up on you. Kravitz set out to tell a story about power, happiness and memory. The less you know going into this movie, the better.

One of my favourite things about this movie is how Kravitz harnesses the ‘Garden of Eden’ aesthetic. For a movie that is primarily about a group of beautiful people partying in a beautiful place, it’s incredibly eerie. The beautiful home, luscious garden, and gorgeous partiers become oversaturated, uncanny and sickly. The tension in the story builds almost exclusively using looks between characters, and cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra and editor Kathryn J. Schubert both do a great job connecting all of the dots with detailed insert shots.

The last thing I’ll say about Blink Twice is that the cast is all fantastic. Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum are stunning on their own, but their work together really delivers something special. They are supported by an incredible cast, including Gena Davis, Alia Shawkat (my fav), and Christian Slater. Each person delivers such a specific performance that rings true, despite increasingly absurd situations, which makes the final act all the more brutal.