“Blink twice if you are in danger.” Laughter fills the air. It’s funny and entertaining—until it’s not. Abuse of power and blind trust can blur the line between living in a story and facing a disturbing reality.
Released in 2024, the movie Blink Twice directed by Zoë Kravitz touches upon the themes of manipulation and abuse of power toward victims living in confusion, fear and mistrust.
The movie plot revolves around the protagonist, tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who encounters a cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at a fundraising gala event.
King invites Frida and her friend to his private island for a vacation. But soon, nonstop wild nights and sun-drenched days turn into nightmares and battles to make it out alive from the “dreamlike” island.
The first part of the movie reflects the trust towards someone who is a well-known celebrity with high status and charisma.
Frida and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) who work as waitresses in the fundraiser change their working clothes into gowns and pretend to be guests of the event.
Frida walks in the middle of the event and falls on the floor, breaking her heel after which the star of the day, King comes to “rescue” her.
At first the movie feels like a typical romantic comedy as the chemistry between the main characters is off the charts.
This movie could have been a lovely tale about how their mother met their father and lived happily ever after, but that’s not the story here.
Frida and Jess immediately agree to fly to his island so they can temporarily disconnect themselves from a dull reality and enjoy an idyllic vacation.
Here’s a question: In the real world, do we often get swept away by charm, charisma, and authority without considering the potential flaws and hidden twists in people and their stories?
The movie dives deeper into the systems of power in relationships, workplaces and society where the ones in control exploit their positions and allure their victims with manipulation techniques.
Two friends and other guests being “blind” by the once-in-a-lifetime offer overlook red flags of the “paradise ticket” invitation and fall for a lavish lifestyle on the island.
The movie illustrates the misconception of sex trafficking, demonstrating that people manipulating others based on trust and emotional bonds can use vulnerable people for their own interests. Sometimes predators are not strangers but close people who wear “masks” and pretend to be someone else to gain the victim’s trust, thus trapping them in psychological and emotional ever-lasting wars.
The movie perfectly reflects reality where human trafficking is a global problem, exploiting millions of people from different countries.
A Global Report on Trafficking in Persons published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that sexual exploitation constitutes the most common way of human trafficking cases (79%), where the majority of victims are women and girls.
In 30% of the countries, women are detected to be the main traffickers. The movie provides a mirror into reality, showing that anyone with Slater’s fame and influence can use their power and social standing to target marginalized people for their exploitation.
The director, Zoë Kravitz, in her interview with Hollywood Insider expresses that the concept of the movie came from her experience being a woman in the complex Hollywood world.
Frustration, rage, and curiosity drove her to write the script of the movie and then decide to direct it. As she describes, the concept of power is a part of human nature that can destroy people. Kravitz mentions that “For someone to be on top somebody has to be on the bottom.”
Throughout the film, Kravitz shows different symbolic elements to add mystery to the unsettling atmosphere. The island plays a huge role in symbolic representation, drawing comparison with a luxury cage that is deceptive with its beauty and wealth but is hidden with horror and secrets.
Moreover, the movie’s vibrant colors and genius touch of cinematography create suspense and dynamics that engulf the viewer’s full attention to details.
Blink Twice pulls the audience into a world that collapses after discovering the truth buried deep down in manipulation and thought control.
Through intricate storytelling and spectacular cinematography, Zoe Kravitz conveys real-world issues that are hanging in the air and lurking in the shadows.
If you are a fan of suspense and thriller horror, do yourself a favor and watch the movie Blink Twice, which will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Be aware that the movie includes violence and unpleasant scenes that can be disturbing and uncomfortable to watch!
