BLINK TWICE : Tuesday 27th August 2024

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'BLINK TWICE' earlier this week, and this American psychological thriller film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Zoe Kravitz in her Directorial debut. The film was released last week too in the US, has so far grossed US$17M from a production budget of US$20M and has generated largely positive critical reviews. 

Here animal-themed nail artist and casual cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) works an exclusive fund raising gala event with her best friend Jess (Alia Shawcat). Frida encounters billionaire tech mogul, Slater King (Channing Tatum), who is hosting the event and who recently stepped down as CEO amid a very public apology for his past behaviour toward his employees. After their shift has finished, the pair put on their glad rags and crash the after party, where ultimately Slater invites her and Jess to join him on his private island. And so Slater and his entourage fly off to the island on his private jet.

There, Slater's assistant Stacy (Geena Davis) confiscates their phones. In attendance are Slater's friends and business associates, photographer Vic (Christian Slater), private chef Cody (Simon Rex), DJ Tom (Haley Joel-Osment), and graduate Lucas (Levon Hawke), as well as three female guests - Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen). The women are treated with lavish rooms, gift bags of perfume, and a high end holiday experience, enhanced by gourmet meals, cocktails and fine wines prepared by Cody, and potent hallucinogenic drugs supplied by Vic.

Frida clashes with Sarah for Slater's attention while Jess observes lapses in her memory. Frida notices that the local workers all sport the same snake tattoo on their arm, and she has strange encounters with an older maid who doesn't speak English, yet appears to recognise her and calls her 'Red Rabbit'. Later, Rich (Kyle MacLachlan), Slater's therapist, visits and receives a gift in a red bag. During a night of partying and drugs, Jess is bitten by a non-venomous snake and later confesses to Frida she wants to leave. 

At breakfast, Frida notices that Lucas smells like the perfume the women are given. While the men are away on a fishing trip, Frida discovers a room with dozens of identical red gift bags all lined up neatly around the room on rows of shelves. She is then tricked into drinking the snake's venom from a bottle by the maid and shortly thereafter begins to remember strange events. She realises that Jess is missing, although the rest of the women do not. Alarmed, Frida investigates and learns a flower indigenous to the island capable of wiping memories has been inside the food and perfume gifted to them. Frida convinces Sarah of what is happening and gets her to drink the venom too, an antidote to the flower's effects.

The men return from their fishing trip later that afternoon, as Frida and Sarah grow increasingly agitated and concerned for their ongoing safety. The pair trick the other women, including Stacy, into drinking tequila shots laced with the venom to restore their memories. Frida sneaks into Slater's office to retrieve their phones, only to find they are out of power and out of service range. Her full memories return, revealing the men have been sexually assaulting the women and then wiping their memories using the flower. When Jess's memories could not be wiped due to the venom in her system from the earlier snake bite, they killed her. She also discovers polaroids featuring different women and men with red gift bags, revealing that Slater is inviting guests to rape people regularly and gifting them perfume to use when they are away from the island.

Frida and Sarah try to buy themselves time with varying degrees of success as Camilla and Heather's memories return, leading Camilla to stab Tom to death while Heather badly injures Vic by repeatedly slamming a marble chess board into his head, before being shot dead by Stan (Cris Costa), Slater's former US Marine security guard. Slater kills Camilla and the men take refuge in Slater's villa where Slater chastises Lucas for opting to be inactively complicit in the abuse by doing nothing to help the women. Stacy attacks Frida, preferring to be ignorant of the men’s behaviour before Frida stabs her to death. Frida runs into the woods behind the villa and is chased by Stan who catches up with her and holds her at gunpoint, but is then bludgeoned to death from behind by Sarah with a rock, who takes his gun. Cody makes his way to the woods but is shot dead by Sarah. In the villa, Lucas tries to run away but due to a trap set for Slater by Frida and Sarah, is mistakenly shot in the head. Following this, Slater traps Frida in the villa and binds her hands and gags her mouth. 

It is revealed that Frida was invited to the island the year before and experienced the same events, biting off Vic's little finger and scarring her temple when she fell against a rock before her memories were wiped. The maid had recognised Frida from her fingernails painted with red rabbits. Slater laughs off his recent apology in the media and exclaims that forgetting is better than forgiveness, before leaving to retrieve Sarah. While Slater is gone, Frida cuts through her hand bindings with a shard of broken glass, and laces his vape with the memory-erasing perfume. When Slater returns with Sarah he holds a kitchen knife to her throat, but the effects make him forget the previous events, back away from Sarah and cause him to panic upon seeing the dead and mutilated bodies strewn across the floor. Slater slips and knocks himself unconscious as the villa catches fire. The two women escape, leaving Vic to die but Frida saves Slater. 

Sometime later at a similar gala dinner as to the one that opened the film, Rich, who also assaulted Frida on the island, encounters Slater who is noticeably incoherent. It is revealed that Frida has married Slater and assumed his position as CEO, all the while drugging his vape with the flower to keep him compliant. As the event's guests congratulate Frida, Rich is apprehended by law enforcement officers.

For Zoe Kravitz Directorial debut, she has hit on a winner here proving her filmmaking talents both in front and behind the camera, leaving this Reviewer keen to see what she turns her mind to next. Here she ably ramps up the tension, leverages the suspense, throws in the occasional laugh before serving up a blood soaked ending with nods to 'The Menu' and 'Get Out' especially. Channing Tatum is right on form here as the disgraced CEO tech tycoon, and Naomi Ackie and Adria Arjona add weight and credibility through their performances too. A well crafted film, with on point sound design, a cracking soundtrack and a stacked cast of A-list talent, this film is worth searching out for the underlying messages it seeks to impart, the visual spectacle and its power to keep you talking after the credits have rolled.

'Blink Twice' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 22nd August 2024

The 25th London 'FrightFest' film festival kicks off on Thursday 22nd August and runs through until Monday 26th August. Hailed as the UK’s best, brightest, and largest independent international thriller, fantasy, and horror film festival it stages three major events each year in London and Glasgow. FrightFest staged its first event in 2000 at the Prince Charles Cinema, off London's Leicester Square. Its August Bank Holiday weekend date has remained a fixture ever since. The objective of FrightFest was to provide the UK with a horror fantasy festival similar to the market leaders in Europe, Sitges (Spain) and Brussels (Belgium). FrightFest has since evolved into a community where audiences and guests alike travel from all over the world to be part of the event's unique atmosphere - so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is the World Premiere of 'Broken Bird' from the UK and Directed by Joanne Mitchell with the Closing Night Film being the English Premiere of 'The Substance' Directed by Coralie Fargeat with Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid.

There are a number of films being showcased for the first time as World Premiere screenings at this years FrightFest, and briefly those titles are :-

* 'Test Screening' - from the USA and Directed by Clark Baker.

* 'The Hitcher' - from the USA in its 4K restoration and Directed by Robert Harmon in 1986 and starring Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh and C. Thomas Howell.

* 'Traumatika' - from the USA and Directed by Pierre Tsigaridis.

* 'Members Club' - from the UK and Directed by Marc Coleman.

* 'The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee' - this documentary from the UK is Directed by Jon Spira with interviews from Joe Dante and Peter Jackson amongst others.

* 'Ladybug' - from the USA and Directed by Tim Cruz.

* 'The Daemon' - from the USA and Directed by David Yohe and Matt Devino.

* 'Children of the Wicker Man' - this documentary from the UK is Directed by Justin Hardy, Dominic Hardy and Chris Nunn.

* 'Touchdown' - from the UK and Directed by Josephine Rose and starring Jason Flemyng.

* 'Scopophobia' - from the UK and Directed by Aled Owen.

* 'Year 10' - from the UK and Directed by Benjamin Goodger.

* 'Protein' - from the UK and Directed by Tony Burke.

* 'Never Have I Ever' - from the UK and Directed by Damon Rickard.

* 'Bogieville' - from the UK and Directed by Sean Patrick Cronin.

* 'Charlotte' - from the UK and Directed by Georgia Conlan.

* 'Agatha' - from the USA and Directed by Roland Becerra and Kelly Bigelow.

* 'The Freaks of Fancy' - from the UK and Directed by Elliott Leon.

* 'Boutique : To Preserve and Collect' - this documentary from the USA is Directed by Ry Levey.

* 'The Monster Beneath Us' - from the UK and Directed by Sophie Osbourne.

* 'Cara' - from the UK and Directed by Hayden Hewitt.

* 'Derelict' - from the UK and Directed by Jonathan Zaurin.

* 'Razor Blade Smile' - from the UK in its 4K restoration and Directed in 1998 by Jake West.

* 'Fright' - from the UK and Directed by Warren Dudley.

* 'Generation Terror' - this documentary from the UK is Directed by Phillip Escott and Sarah Appleton with interviews from Adam Wingard, James Wong, Joe Lynch and Rob Zombie amongst others.

* 'The Last Podcast' - from the USA and Directed by Dean Alioto.

For the full summaries of the above named World Premiere screenings, plus all the details of the other International Premiere's and UK Premiere's being showcased too, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://frightfest.co.uk

Turning back then to this weeks four new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we begin with a psychological thriller from a first time Director with a story about a cocktail waitress who ingratiates her way into the world of a tech billionaire and is invited to his private island with a bunch of other friends but when things start to go awry she begins to question her grip on reality. This is followed by a darkly romantic horror thriller in which nothing is quite what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer's vicious murder spree. Next up is a French adventure dramatic thriller that follows a couple who must fight for survival after they become stranded on an island that was supposed to be their dream journey; before closing out the week with an Aussie romantic drama about a woman who moves back home to Australia after the loss of her London based job and the death of her husband, to rekindle a relationship with a childhood sweetheart all the while battling MS. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'BLINK TWICE' (Rated MA15+) - is an American psychological thriller film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Zoe Kravitz in her Directorial debut. The film is released this week too in the US and early critical reviews have given it a universal acclaim rating.

A cocktail waitress, Frida (Naomi Ackie) becomes infatuated with a billionaire tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum) at his fundraising gala. He subsequently invites her to join him and his friends for a dream holiday, and travels with him to his private island for a luxurious party. Wild nights soon blend into sun-soaked days, but when strange things start to happen and her friend vanishes, Frida must uncover the truth if she hopes to make it out alive. Also starring Christian Slater, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis, Alia Shawcat and Simon Rex.

'STRANGE DARLING' (Rated MA15+) - this American dark romantic horror thriller is Written and Directed by JT Mollner in only his second feature film outing following 'Outlaws and Angels' in 2016 although he has many more credits as Producer, Writer and Actor to his name. A relentless predator (Kyle Gallner) tracks an injured woman (Willa Fitzgerald) through the Oregon wilderness. The woman does her best to outsmart her attacker, but with each tense moment she grows weaker and less able. He’s a man on a mission, and it’s only a matter of time before he captures his prey. Also starring Giovanni Ribisi (who also lensed this film and Co-Produces), Brabara Hershey and Ed Begley Jnr. The film saw its World Premier screening at Fantastic Fest in late September last year, and is released in the US and here in Australia this week having garnered positive critical acclaim. 

'SUDDENLY' (Rated M) - is a French survival thriller Co-Written and Directed by Thomas Bidegain and based on the novel by Isabelle Autissier. This is Thomas Bidegain's second feature film following 'Les Cowboys' in 2015. Here, Vincent (Gilles Lallouche) and Laura (Melanie Thierry) are a passionate but volatile couple who embark on a round-the-world sailing adventure to give their relationship a new start. During their trip, they decide to explore a vast deserted island which they discover off the southern coast of Chile. Caught in a violent storm, they shelter in an abandoned whaling station for the night but wake up the next morning to find their boat has disappeared. Stranded in a hostile environment with no means of communication, dwindling supplies and winter approaching they must work together in a life and death battle for survival, that will challenge their feelings and change their relationship forever. The film was released in its native France in early December last year, and only now does it get a release here in Australia

'TAKE MY HAND' (Rated M) - this Australian romantic drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by John Raftopoulos in his screen debut. Living in London, at the peak of her career, a model turned investment banker and mother of three Laura (Radha Mitchell) is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Following the sudden death of her husband and the loss of her job, she moves back home to Australia; where a chance meeting with her high school sweetheart Michael (Adam Demos) gives her renewed hope in love as she battles the disease. Also starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte.

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-