A #MeToo nightmare whose censure is dull, surprises are predictable, and ugliness is tame, Blink Twice , in theaters August 23, proves a wan thriller in an overtly Get Out mold. Actress Zoë Kravitz’ directorial debut boasts an enchantingly malevolent lead performance from Channing Tatum as a Jeffrey Epstein -esque tech titan with a penchant for “having a good time,” as well as a slick, inviting sheen that portends promising scares. Alas, there’s nothing very unsettling about its eventual horrors, in large part because the film is too infatuated with its sleek style to get its hands dirty.
Sitting on the toilet flipping through her Instagram reels, Frida (Naomi Ackie) is transfixed by a video of tech billionaire Slater King (Tatum) publicly apologizing for the umpteenth time for inappropriate sexual behavior that’s compelled him to step down as CEO of his company. As it turns out, Frida and her roommate/best friend Jess ( Alia Shawkat ) work for a catering company that’s handling Slater’s latest gala event, and after performing their duties, the two don swanky cocktail dresses and crash the party, where Frida catches Slater’s eye by wiping out in front of everyone. This isn’t the sole momentous fall suffered by Frida, and it gains her and Jess an unofficial invite into Slater’s inner circle of hangers-on, who include pinky-less shutterbug Vic (Christian Slater), chef Cody ( Simon Rex ), Survivor legend Sarah (Adria Arjona), nerdy Tom (Haley Joel Osment), .