Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Blink Twice”
Zoë Kravitz isn’t someone that I imagined would make the transition from acting to directing, especially this early in her career, but her debut feature is a solid genre flick that, while not as deep or thought-provoking as it would like you to believe, shows real promise from Kravitz as a filmmaker. Though the movie’s opening trigger warning spoils the big twist, and it spends a little too much time watching its characters party it up, once the other shoe drops, “Blink Twice” transforms into an exciting thriller where revenge is very much on the menu. Channing Tatum delivers good work playing against type as the douchey tech bro behind the island getaway, but it’s Naomi Ackie and Adria Arjona who shine the brightest as a pair of guests who become suspicious of his true intentions. “Blink Twice” isn’t revelatory stuff, but it’s an entertaining watch that feels very much of the moment. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Trap” — Like most of M. Night Shyamalan’s recent movies, “Trap” contains an intriguing premise that’s crippled by poor execution. The script is a fragile array of coincidence and stupidity, requiring the audience to continuously suspend disbelief for the story to work on an even basic level. There’s nothing smart or clever about the ways in which Shyamalan gets his antagonist out of trouble because they’re not at all realistic. Josh Hartnett is also miscast as the seemingly ordinary father harboring a deadly secret, especially in the early scenes before his “mask” comes off, while the casting of Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka in a prominent role (the latest example of the director’s rampant nepotism) fails to impress. Though “Trap” certainly has the makings of a really great Hitchcockian thriller, in Shyamalan’s hands, it’s just another disappointment. Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes, some deleted scenes and an extended concert sequence. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Afraid” — Blumhouse movies are so cheap to make that it only takes a few hits to turn a profit. Unfortunately, that means they can get away with putting out utter garbage most of the time, and “Afraid” definitely belongs in that camp. Though not as cheesy as the likeminded “M3GAN” (also produced by Blumhouse), “Afraid” is another unsuspenseful, unscary “horror film” that fails to wring any terror out of its silly premise. The only scary thing about the movie is the idea that two smart, grown-ass adults seem incapable of even the most basic parenting duties… so much so that they have to rely on a supercharged Alexa to handle it for them. The cast is hardly to blame, as the film’s shortcomings fall squarely on the awful script and uninspired direction, resulting in a movie that’s as soulless as the very thing it’s trying to denounce. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
