Current:Home > NewsNovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:Zoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop -ProsperityStream Academy
NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:Zoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop
Chainkeen View
Date:2025-04-07 13:02:06
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,̈KravitzsaysBeyoncéNovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center 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! (653)
Related
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- ‘Priscilla’ movie doesn’t shy away from Elvis age gap: She was 'a child playing dress-up’
- Georgia will take new applications for housing subsidy vouchers in 149 counties
- US Senate Majority Leader Schumer criticizes China for not supporting Israel after Hamas attack
- 'Most Whopper
- College football Week 6 grades: We're all laughing at Miami after the worst loss of year
- NASCAR playoffs: Where the Cup drivers stand as the Round of 8 begins
- Georgia will take new applications for housing subsidy vouchers in 149 counties
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion after no winner in Saturday's drawing
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, with over 1,100 dead in fighting so far
- Oklahoma, Brent Venables validate future, put Lincoln Riley in past with Texas win
- Americans reported $2.7 billion in losses from scams on social media, FTC says
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Man arrested over alleged plot to kidnap and murder popular British TV host Holly Willoughby
- Evacuations ordered as remnants of Typhoon Koinu hit southern China
- AP Top 25 Takeaways: Turns out, Oklahoma’s back; Tide rising in West; coaching malpractice at Miami
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
150-year-old Florida Keys lighthouse illuminated for first time in a decade
At least 15 people have been killed in floods set off by heavy rains in Cameroon’s capital
US raises the death toll to 9 of Americans killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Workers at Mack Trucks reject tentative contract deal and will go on strike early Monday
From Coke floats to Cronuts, going viral can have a lasting effect on a small business
NFL in London highlights: Catch up on all the big moments from Jaguars' win over Bills