This Zoe Kravitz directed film from Amazon studios follows friends Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) as they are invited to a private island owned by Slater King (Channing Tatum). As they enjoy their weekend away with a group of rich people they barely know, they soon realize that their island paradise is not what it seems.
Amazon Studios put a warning in front of the film saying that depictions of nonconsensual sex may be triggering for some viewers, which pretty much gave away the twist that anyone paying attention could see coming anyway as the naive characters realize that something is amiss. Also, the depictions are respectfully done by director Zoe Kravitz who leaves them as mostly implied. I’ve never been a fan of graphic rape scenes for I find them unnecessary, so it was a nice change to have them done from a female perspective where it is either implied or the camera quickly edits away from the shot and it does not go on endlessly.
Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, and Adria Adjora all put in stellar performances, their pain at having been lied to and manipulated into going to a private island with men they barely knew ever present in the second half of the film. Even Geena Davis’ small role adds much to the female perspective.
This film has much to say about consent and gaslighting and the trauma that comes with all of it. It does not shy away from these themes, although the ending didn’t really stick the landing. I’m not a fan of revenge endings even if the characters deserved said revenge. That said, I look forward to seeing more films from Zoe Kravitz behind the camera. She stepped up to give us a watchable film with great acting in a pretty location.
Three and half out of five stars.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
This Zoe Kravitz directed film from Amazon studios follows friends Frida (Naomi Ackie) and Jess (Alia Shawkat) as they are invited to a private island owned by Slater King (Channing Tatum). As they enjoy their weekend away with a group of rich people they barely know, they soon realize that their island paradise is not what it seems.
Amazon Studios put a warning in front of the film saying that depictions of nonconsensual sex may be triggering for some viewers, which pretty much gave away the twist that anyone paying attention could see coming anyway as the naive characters realize that something is amiss. Also, the depictions are respectfully done by director Zoe Kravitz who leaves them as mostly implied. I’ve never been a fan of graphic rape scenes for I find them unnecessary, so it was a nice change to have them done from a female perspective where it is either implied or the camera quickly edits away from the shot and it does not go on endlessly.
Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, and Adria Adjora all put in stellar performances, their pain at having been lied to and manipulated into going to a private island with men they barely knew ever present in the second half of the film. Even Geena Davis’ small role adds much to the female perspective.
This film has much to say about consent and gaslighting and the trauma that comes with all of it. It does not shy away from these themes, although the ending didn’t really stick the landing. I’m not a fan of revenge endings even if the characters deserved said revenge. That said, I look forward to seeing more films from Zoe Kravitz behind the camera. She stepped up to give us a watchable film with great acting in a pretty location.
Three and half out of five stars.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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