Frida (Naomi Ackie) and her gal pal Jess (Alia Shawkat) are two young ladies trying to make ends meet. When they get a job hostessing at a fundraising gala they come in contact with Slater King (Channing Tatum). The tech billionaire is fighting the cancel culture after a transgression that is never fully explained and the fundraiser is part of his road back. After their paths cross, King invites them to his island for a weekend of excess.

Once on the island, things seem too good to be true but as the days add up so does the sense of dread. Kravitz and company are masterful at building tension and even the most mundane action is handled in such a way as to add to the feeling of unease. This sensation builds and builds. The resolution only happens at the film’s end. The clues were there but the truth always seemed out of reach.

The aura of the monstrous actions of the late Jeffrey Epstein is never far from the surface and this only adds to the horror on screen. Equal parts fascinating and disturbing, Blink Twice is one of those oh-so-rare works that actually surprises you at the film’s end. It will leave you unsure if you loved the movie or were repulsed by it. Hours later after viewing it, I’m still unsure.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU/

He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality.

There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive.

With an ensemble cast including Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan and Geena Davis, BLINK TWICE is a wild new psychological thriller directed by Zoë Kravitz.
www.facebook.com/WarnerBrosAU/

Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) has taken the job running the studio that was offered him in the crazy credits in the last TV episode and has agreed to let Vincent (Adrian Grenier) direct and star in his first big project as studio head. The film is called Hyde and is loosely based on the Jekyll and Hyde story. Vinnie is way over budget and so Ari has to go cap in hand and ask the film’s financier Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton) and his oh so creepy son Travis (Haley Joel Osment) for more money and so starts the new tale.

The film is modest in its approach and this suits the theme well. It plays out like an extended TV episode and its main appeal is getting to hang with Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), E (Kevin Connolly) and Drama (Kevin Dillon) again. Only four years have passed since the series ended so all the players look the same age and the script paints their characters with predictable colours.

There are no great revelations on display here but there is much to like on screen. Keeping your eye out for the plethora of cameo appearances is good fun as is recognizing all the traditional Hollywood haunts. As for the boys, little change has taken place to their actions and behaviours but its cool to have a chance to spend time with the gang again.

Rob Hudson
www.entouragemovie.com