Katelyn Benschoter-

It’s official: going to the movies is back.  And speaking from personal experience, it feels good to be back. Ever since the summer of “Barbenheimer”, the act of going out to the theaters and watching movies in the theater has made a triumphant return. With blockbuster after blockbuster, there is once again a draw to get off the couch and see a movie in a theater rather than at home. One of the recent films that is creating a draw is Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice. It is a psychological thriller about two women who find themselves on a luxury vacation, but strange things start to happen and nothing is as it seems. Blink Twice has created quite a conversation surrounding the movie.

As I was stepping into my local theater to see Blink Twice, I was curious about what would make this psychological thriller different from the rest. Why has there been such a buzz around this movie on my social media feeds? There are countless “overdone” tropes when it comes to thrillers of this nature and, while Blink Twice could be placed under many of these common tropes, Kravitz approached the physiological thriller in a slightly different manner. The film begins as two friends, Frida and Jess, are working as cocktail waitresses who are barely getting by. Suddenly, they find themselves on a luxury vacation with tech billionaire, Slater King. For a large chunk of the movie, the audience simply watches as Frida and Jess enjoy what appears to be a neverending perfect vacation. They swim, drink, smoke, laugh, and repeat. A key aspect of this film was waiting for something to go wrong, which created a lot of suspense. As a viewer, it felt as if it was a paradise they were in. That plays heavily into the themes and the impact this movie holds, but more on that later.

Suddenly, Jess disappears from the island and everything begins to spiral out of control. Frida suddenly has “awoken” and sees all the flaws and dangers the island she has loved actually holds. Reminiscent of movies like Don’t Worry Darling where the female lead finds her entire life was not at all what she thought it was. Rather than creating a film just about a woman waking from a life of being repressed, Kravitz decides to tackle sexual violence, therefore creating a much more impactful film. Oftentimes, a takeaway from physiological thrillers has to do with not being controlled and finding the strength to overcome. Kravitz did not shy away from any heavy topics in order to make the audience feel this deeply uncomfortable feeling in their stomach. She did this by diving into themes of female oppression and assault on numerous layers, which led to Blink Twice becoming such an impactful movie.

Kravitz uses the perfect utopian paradise as a symbol for our world; no one likes to admit that the world we have created and live in is not amazing. Women are often conditioned to settle for what they have, and if they are told that their life is like a dream vacation, they should not argue and simply enjoy their time. But, equivalent to when Frida “woke up” in the movie, oftentimes something happens in a woman’s life that allows her to realize she has been settling as well as noticing her life was not at all what she thought it was. While the happenings of Blink Twice are not relatable occurrences, the emotions the characters feel and the thematic ideas brought forward are incredibly relevant.

So, what about this film has left such an impact on so many people returning to the theaters? Well, with most of the film existing in this utopian island when the women start to realize the terrible things happening around them, it truly catches the viewer off guard. When I watched the film, this contrast led me to think about how common acts of violence against women are and how they are never talked about or discussed. When discussing the ideas of a sexual assault in a movie oftentimes, it can become one-noted and consistently be told one way, and always from the same point of view. Blink Twice tackles these issues on numerous levels and through different lenses. A big aspect of sexual assault is the taboos that come along with it. Women often feel they should not bring it up or that they will be judged for what happened to them. This is highly prevalent in Blink Twice. Every woman on the island is going through their ordeals, yet it takes almost the entirety of the film for all of them to wake up and realize. When all the women came together, they were able to overcome the men who brought them to this horrible island. This overcoming is a symbol of how women should come together, and not be afraid to come forward.

Through the use of suspense and symbols, Zoe Kravitz’s Blink Twice is an incredibly impactful psychological thriller that leaves the audience in a state of awe. She tackles incredibly tough topics, while still executing an uplifting message. Going to the movies is back, and I thoroughly enjoyed my cinema experience seeing Blink Twice. If you enjoy physiological thrillers but are ready for something new, this movie is for you. If you enjoy movies with feminist themes of female overcoming, this movie is for you. If you do not find interest in seeing a movie with a heavier theme, there are plenty to see in theaters right now. But I do want to reiterate just how impactful this film is. Blink Twice will be talked about for months to come, and I am ecstatic to see what Kravitz decides to do with her next movie. But in the meantime, go to the movies! Find some friends, grab yourself extra buttery popcorn, and relax… or spiral a little bit replaying the movie in your head if you do end up seeing Blink Twice.