Current:Home > MyZoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop -Elevate Capital Network
Zoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop
View
Date:2025-04-16 20:35:43
Spoiler alert! We're discussing the ending of the new movie “Blink Twice” (in theaters now). Beware if you haven't seen it yet.
Beyoncé doesn’t give her music to just anyone.
But the pop supernova made an exception for Zoë Kravitz,̈KravitzsaysBeyoncé who skillfully deploys a fan-favorite “Renaissance” track during the bloody finale of her provocative new thriller “Blink Twice.”
The film follows a social climber named Frida (Naomi Ackie), who takes an impromptu vacation with billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and his hard-partying posse. But their exotic island paradise gradually turns into a cult-like nightmare, as Frida discovers that Slater and his male cohorts have been drugging and assaulting the women in the group to assert their dominance.
Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
When the women wake up to the men's abuse, they kill them off one by one. And at the end of the film, Frida teams up with new friend Sarah (Adria Arjona) to take revenge on Slater. Armed with knives, they stride into his palatial compound, soundtracked by the woozy opening thrums of Beyoncé’s “I’m That Girl.”
Frida and Slater tussle on the floor, knocking over candles and burning the mansion to the ground. But rather than let him go up in flames, Frida saves the corrupt tech CEO, and with the help of some memory-wiping substances, blackmails him for his fortune. And in the film's final scene, she hosts a swanky gala of her own.
Why Zoë Kravitz chose Beyoncé's 'I'm That Girl' for the ending of 'Blink Twice'
The hypnotic “I’m That Girl,” with its rousing declaration of “ain’t stopping me,” was perfect for the movie’s empowering climax.
“I did not think we were going to get that song,” Kravitz says. “We did not have a lot of money for music. But we sent it to Beyoncé and her team, and they were so kind and responsive. She did not see the whole film, but she saw a clip of that part, and said ‘yes’ and was so supportive. I really couldn’t believe when we found out that we got it. It has such a major impact on the film ... it adds this whole meta, girl-power moment.”
Kravitz says she considered “so many” songs for that scene, including another iconic Beyoncé hit: “Crazy in Love” featuring Jay-Z. But “nothing was even close” to “I’m That Girl.”
“It was just unbeatable,” she adds. “It’s really fun to play with different songs in different scenes, and see how much it changes it. But once you put Beyoncé somewhere, you kind of don’t want to go back!”
Shooting that sequence, Kravitz "was picking banger after banger from different decades and genres, but we kept on screaming that we wanted Beyoncé,” Ackie recalls with a laugh.
After the trauma Frida and Sarah experienced, “I’m That Girl” feels like a middle finger “to the system,” Ackie says. “You just want to punch the air. It’s weirdly celebratory, like a claim of power in such a scary moment of the film.”
Naomi Ackie recalls how the set of 'Blink Twice' felt like 'having a party'
“Blink Twice” is full of other killer needle drops, including Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” and James Brown’s “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul.” Music has always been vital for Kravitz: Her dad is rocker Lenny Kravitz, and she herself has fronted bands such as Lolawolf. Because of her musical background, she was hyper-conscious of the rhythm of the dialogue as she was writing the script.
“Rhythm is so important to me, in the way that scenes flow and the melody of a scene,” Kravitz says. “The reason people love Aaron Sorkin is because it’s like a symphony. The same with editing: I like editing that has a punch to it and that is all rhythm-based. I think of things in that way.”
“Blink Twice” marks Kravitz’s directorial debut. Ackie was floored by her “stylistic approach” and “attention to detail,” particularly when it came to aspects such as sound and music cues.
“She was always throwing out all these awesome songs, and we were just vibing,” Ackie says. “It genuinely was so magical. It’s such a gift when you get to work on something where you feel like you’re having a party at the same time.”
veryGood! (4363)
Related
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- 'We started celebrating': 70-year-old woman wins $452,886 from Michigan Lottery Fast Cash game
- Taylor Momsen was 'made fun of relentlessly' for starring in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'
- Ohio will keep GOP-drawn congressional maps in 2024 elections, ending court challenge
- The seven biggest college football quarterback competitions include Michigan, Ohio State
- Lainey Wilson leads the 2023 Country Music Award nominations for the second year in a row
- Germany arrests 2 Syrians, one of them accused of war crimes related to a deadly attack in 2013
- Danelo Cavalcante press conference livestream: Police update search for Pennsylvania prisoner
- JoJo Siwa reflects on Candace Cameron Bure feud: 'If I saw her, I would not say hi'
- Accidentally throw away a conversation? Recover deleted messages on your iPhone easily.
Ranking
- Jury selection set for Monday for ex-politician accused of killing Las Vegas investigative reporter
- Canadian journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94
- Spain soccer chief Luis Rubiales accused of sexual assault by player Jenni Hermoso for unwanted kiss
- Felony convictions for 4 ex-Navy officers vacated in Fat Leonard bribery scandal
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Bear that killed woman weeks ago shot during recent break in
- All 'The Conjuring' horror movies, ranked (including new sequel 'The Nun 2')
- Mississippi Rep. Nick Bain concedes loss to gun shop owner Brad Mattox in Republican primary runoff
Recommendation
Southern California rocked by series of earthquakes: Is a bigger one brewing?
Fugitive killer used previous escapee's 'crab walking' breakout method: Warden
Naomi Osaka says she's returning to pro tennis in 2024
Britney Spears Reveals How She Really Felt Dancing With a Snake During Her Iconic 2001 VMAs Performance
Your Wedding Guests Will Thank You if You Get Married at These All-Inclusive Resorts
Rescue efforts are underway for an American caver who fell ill while exploring deep cave in Turkey
New data shows increase in abortions in states near bans compared to 2020 data
Australian minister says invasive examinations were part of reason Qatar Airways was refused flights