'Blink Twice' review: Zo? Kravitz gets dark with evaluation of toxic power dynamics in film with Channing Tatum

After Big Little Lies and High Fidelity, Zo? Kravitz has made her directorial debut, working with fiancée Channing Tatum in Blink Twice (now in theatres). A thriller and analysis of misogyny, the film has made us curious about how Kravitz will continue to evolve as a filmmaker.

Starring alongside Tatum is Naomi Ackie, Christian Slater, Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjona, Simon Rex, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan and Haley Joel Osment. It's an impressive ensemble to execute the twists of the story, co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, but Blink Twice leaves something more to be desired by the end.

What is 'Blink Twice' about?

Blink Twice begins with one of the most famous movie tropes, Frida (Ackie) catches the eye of tech billionaire Slater (Tatum) while working on a catering job as a waitress. They're seemingly so enamoured with each other that Slater invites Frida to his private island with his friends, with Frida bringing her friend Jess (Shawkat) along for the ride, of course on a private jet.

The island is a booze-fueled, opulent extravaganza, including bottomless champagne, decadent food, matching outfits and hours laying out by the pool.

But when Jess goes missing, and the other women on the island have no memory of Jess being part of the group, the darkness and threat on this island starts to be exposed. Frida teams up with Sarah (Arjona) to try to figure out what's really going on within the group.

Is 'Blink Twice' worth watching?

While we wish Blink Twice still went by it's original title, Pussy Island, the film is an admirable directorial debut for Kravitz.

Parts of the film feel very much like Triangle of Sadness, Glass Onion and The Menu, a social class thriller that highlights our flawed patriarchal society. It's certainly been explored extensively on screen, maybe too much at this point, so the fact that Blink Twice still kept us engaged is significant, with a setup that seems reductive on paper.

The film also looks beautiful and captivating. Kravitz's directing is enticing and specific, and clearly she knows Tatum because the film tries to lean into his strengths. Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra really exceeded our expectations for Blink Twice. When the story gets a bit murky, the visuals are still so powerful and lush, you're drawn back in.

Kravitz and her co-writer also go deep and dark in this film, the further you go along the path to solve this mystery, the more unsettling the story becomes. But that build up is where the film starts to unravel.

The pacing of the story is such that the "big payoff" at the end doesn't feel satisfying or substantial. Blink Twice never really finds that balance between teasing the audience with what's to come, while still keeping us on our toes. The ending (which we won't spoil) almost feels like a throw away device or gimmick that we're rushing through to cross the finish line.

The comedic elements come from this interesting cast of characters, but when it comes to Jess, Shawkat feels like she wasn't used to her full potential. Yes Jess disappears, but she's a little too forgotten, especially when the actor is a real shining light among the ensemble.

In terms of Kravitz's approach to looking at toxic masculinity and the film's evaluation of power in a patriarchal society, she's clearly influenced by being the daughter of two celebrities, Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, and the particular insanity that comes with fame.

While there are moments in the film that feel like they could have been reeled in more, Kravitz's perspective as a filmmaker makes us curious about where she'll go next.