Blink Twice

 

Originally called Pussy Island, a title that may have given the game away, Blink Twice on the surface seems like one of those glitzy mystery thrillers with hot cast and story that is expected to be full of twists. Not to say Blink Twice isn’t this, but even from the release of the trailer, there is a darker undercurrent running through this shiny film. With Zoe Kravitz in the director’s chair, she goes full force in her directorial debut, willing to show grim truths, no sugar coating and showing that this film won’t be a one from her. 

At an exclusive event held by billionaire tech mogul, Slater King, two friends Frida and Jess who are part of the catering staff, decide to crash the party. Subsequentially getting invited to Slater’s private island with a group of his associates. The island is paradise, followed by amazing dinners, wild partying on repeat for several days. But when Jess asks to leave, disturbed by something, Frida begs her to stay a little while longer. However, by the next day Jess is missing and no one remembers her even being there. 

What feels like a ‘Lady Vanishes’ type plot very quickly spirals out to be a far more sinister yet basic plot. Not necessarily a negative thing but the disturbing element is more than just a missing person. As Frida connects pieces of a puzzle that actually began the moment she arrived, some might theorise even before that, we watch her going from having the time of her life to literally surviving through hell. At the core, Blink Twice is a deep disturbing thriller that unfortunately surprises no women, when it comes to the behaviour of men. The light exploration into trauma and the discussion around reliving trauma and whether its better to forget is an interesting element to the film but it barely scratches the surface of the subject. 

The cast assembled is impressive and everyone makes their mark on screen, but the stand outs here are most definitely Naomi Ackie as Frida, our guide bringing us into this hellscape and Adria Arjona as Sarah, former reality TV star and who equally finds herself in a unbelievable situation. 

Blink Twice is a welcome addition to the long list of films with the theme of ‘eat the rich’, even if it presents itself slightly differently. For a directorial debut its impressive and as thriller mysteries go, its highly entertaining.

If You Were The Last

 

When was the last time a science fiction romantic comedy was both whimsical, in a non-nauseating way and was actually heartfelt, as well as having genuine laughs? If You Were the Last should have been the breakout film of this year but instead was cruelly left to the streamers with very little flare. Unfortunately, there are genuinely great films that do the festival circuit and never get picked up by a big enough distributor who will back the film. But aside from how the film was released, this gem of a film really does lift the spirits and brings hope that there are stories out there, like this, even being made. 

Two astronauts, Adam and Jane, drift throughout space. After their multi year mission is derailed, mostly due to their deceased crewmate Benson, Adam and Jane, over time wonder if they will ever be rescued, discuss life, love and the pros and cons of them having sex with each other. All the while falling in love, but unsure if the other feels the same. 

Setting any sort of story in space comes with the expectation on how a sci-fi should look like, but what If You Were The Last offers is something a bit extra. All the tech on the ship, resembles something out of Wes Anderson’s or Michel Gondry’s workshops. The astronauts even have a cosy living room space on the ship, to make them feel at home, complete with watching films on cartridges. The sci-fi elements are left to the setting outside the ship and the communication set up to try and reach home for rescue. All other parts are complete rom-com beats and they are most welcome. The quirky tech and set design is not overbearing, balanced out by the two actors fantastic chemistry. Zoe Chao and Anthony Mackie are so in tune together, they do not miss a step with one another, romantically or comedically. Its almost a shame when they are eventually separated in the third act when (SPOILERS) the two make it back to Earth and their spouses. 

There is a more sombre element to the story, these lost astronauts have only each other (aside from the ill fated Benson) and have been this way for a few years. The strain on their mental health and on their respective marriages, takes a toll. The joke about them deciding if they should have sex with each other goes past the joke stage is the really about connection. If You Were The Last is essentially a sweet story set against an incredible background, two people against the universe, and at one point Benson.

Infinite Summer - Fantasia Film Festival

 

With the concept of summer films being about adventure, exploration, loves and that impossibly positive stereotypical content expected in film about the season, Miguel Llansó’s latest is a swift turn away from anything familiar. 

Three friends, spending a week by the beach over summer, end up dabbling in chemical induced meditation, supplied by the nefarious ‘Doctor Mindfulness’. But when people start disappearing, these so called ‘trips’ start to gain the attention of the authorities. The group of friends end up experiencing something they never could have anticipated. 

As with Llansó’s previous film, Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway, the concept for Infinite Summer is fascinating. A mixture of a typical coming of age, science fiction and a low-key mystery, the idea that there is a device that could take you to a higher plane of existence has the potential to be memorising. While the VFX are very easy to get sucked into and the higher plane is well constructed, the characters and narrative are not as enticing. A major part of the film’s failing is that everyone speaks English which most of the time produces wooden acting. The very few scenes not the English language, the actors are more relaxed and the story moves with ease. Its an unfortunate choice but you can understand the motive behind this choice, trying to appeal to a wider audience, but instead it stunts the growth of the story. 

We mainly follow Mia who seems dissatisfied with her life and distance from her friends who have clearly changed prior to the summer. But she is not forthcoming with many if any emotions, even when she goes on her first trip. The other characters that populate the story are all very much one dimensional and at times its frustrating to watch. The over dramatic final act thankfully brings the action and further bizarre scenes which at least brings in some excitement. However, the climax of the story is inclusive and you’re left empty. It feels as if there was meant to be some kind of bliss expressed by anyone who puts on a respirator and goes on the ultimate trip, but this sense of utter freedom is lost within the strange structure of the narrative and stunted characters.

Ultimately, Infinite Summer had a bizarre and intriguing concept that never really came to a conclusion, satisfying or otherwise. Being left with a sense of emptiness may have been the goal and if so, Llansó achieved something.