Current:Home > StocksZoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop -Infinite Edge Capital
Zoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop
View
Date:2025-04-18 18:49:56
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! (24)
Related
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Save $210 on the Perricone MD Skincare Product Reviewers Call Liquid Gold
- Man serving sentence for attacking parents fails to return to halfway house and considered escapee
- Sen. Bob Menendez will appear in court in his bribery case as he rejects calls to resign
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Powerball jackpot up to $850 million after months without a big winner
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicks off developer conference with focus on AI, virtual reality
- Bruce Springsteen postpones all 2023 tour dates until 2024 as he recovers from peptic ulcer disease
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- A judge found Trump committed fraud in building his real-estate empire. Here’s what happens next
Ranking
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Screenwriters return to work for first time in nearly five months while actor await new negotiations
- 'Leave the dog': Police engage in slow-speed chase with man in golf cart to return stolen pet
- In Hollywood writers’ battle against AI, humans win (for now)
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Bronny James' Coach Shares Update After He Misses First USC Practice Since Cardiac Arrest
- Egyptian rights group says 73 supporters of a presidential challenger have been arrested
- What happens when your secret fiancee becomes your boss? Find out in 'Fair Play'
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Montana man pleads not guilty to threatening to kill President Joe Biden, US Senator Jon Tester
'David's got to have a Goliath': Deion Sanders, Colorado prepare for undefeated USC
Prosecutors say cheek swab from Gilgo Beach murder suspect adds to evidence of guilt
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Damian Lillard is being traded from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks, AP source says, ending long saga
Alabama woman charged with murder nearly a decade after hit-and-run victim went missing
Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to federal charges in bribery case