Spoiler-Free Review of “Blink Twice” in Theaters: A Disturbing and Powerful Watch!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Are you having a good time?”
Blink Twice released in theaters on August 23rd 2024. The psychological thriller film (written and directed by Zoë Kravitz) stars Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, Adria Arjona, Christian Slater, Geena Davis, Simon Rex, Alia Shawkat, and Kyle MacLachlan. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-two minutes.

When a tech billionaire meets a cocktail waitress named Frida at one of his fundraising events, he invites her and her friend to his private island, but Frida soon suspects that she may be in real danger when her friend goes missing and no one seems to remember who she is.
Here is the trailer:


Blink Twice is a mashup of Get Out, Promising Young Woman, and Don’t Worry Darling with a gripping story of its own. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Beautifully shot with a fantastic soundtrack!

Zoë Kravitz did a great job setting the tone of this film. Everything was so well shot and I loved the choice of music. It really enhanced every emotion displayed. I almost felt like I was transported along with everyone else to the island. I love when a movie can accomplish something like this, which is no easy task. I hope Zoë decides to make more movies because this was a dynamite debut! Wow!

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

An unsettling mystery.

While I started to quickly realize what was actually going on here, this was a trippy watch in a good way. I felt just as lost as some of the characters for a while and when the truth was exposed, it left me with a gut-wrenching feeling of real terror and revulsion. These types of films often impact me the most. They show us the ugly reality of what human beings are capable of, making this watch that much more horrifying for me.

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Bad-ass performances!

We got an all-star ensemble with this one with plenty of recognizable faces and I think that was sort of the point. Everyone played their part well. Channing Tatum went to an extreme level that was definitely noticed, but I have to say that Adria Arjona and Naomi Ackie stole the show. These two ladies were beyond bad-ass. I loved them in this!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Be mindful of the trigger warning.

I actually appreciated that this film had a trigger warning message at the start of the film. There were some scenes that were beyond difficult to watch, but I appreciated the warning ahead of time. It didn’t make the scenes any less uncomfortable, but I’d recommend fully reading the warning.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

I’m in!!!

Blink Twice is terrifying in a very visceral way, making this an uncomfortable, yet impactful watch.

Zoë Kravitz has a bright future as a director!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Blink Twice in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!
**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Kimi” on HBO Max:  Modern take on the “Rear Window” Formula

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“So you’re listening to everything?”

Kimi (KIMI) premiered on HBO Max on February 10th 2022. The tech thriller film stars Zoë Kravitz, Byron Bowers, Rita Wilson, Robin Givens, Devin Ratray and Erika Christensen. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A tech worker with agoraphobia stumbles upon a recording of a violent crime. After several failed attempts to report it, she decides to leave her apartment to seek justice for the woman on the recording, but soon finds herself in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

Kimi may initially seem to follow the Rear Window formula, but its electric female lead and modern tech style give watchers plenty to enjoy. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

A worthy performance…

Zoë Kravitz really delivers in this one and then some! I’ve seen a lot of movies like this before with some over-the-top performances that left a lot to be desired, but Kravitz’s portrayal of Angela is believable and chilling. She is broken in a lot of ways, but is also extremely capable and I thought she brought a charming/awkward quality to her character, which made me like her that much more.

The tech angle worked.

In some ways, this movie is like a mix of The Net and Rear Window. Our main character stares out plenty of windows at her neighbors, but the real mystery surrounds something she hears while doing her job. I was worried that the tech feel was going to feel forced to make this film seem more modern, but it actually worked to the film’s advantage and gave it an edge of originality.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

We’ve seen a lot of this set-up before…

I just recently watched the Kristen Bell parody/spoof series, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window and I couldn’t help chuckling at some of the tropes and plot points that were presented once again in this film. The main character can’t leave her house and she has to channel her strength to actually face her fear. She copes with a past trauma and also has to deal with people not believing her. 

Sound familiar?

Well, yeah. It follows the Rear Window formula, but luckily Kravitz doesn’t keep handing out casserole dishes left and right. 

The plot follows a a very familiar path and the pacing is slow at first, but things do pick up and the ending is rewarding enough.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

The contemporary take on the Rear Window story delivers with a worthy female lead!

I may have seen this type of movie before, but I thought that it was really entertaining and I was glued to my seat the entire time. 

An intense watch!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Kimi in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!