Current:Home > NewsZoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop -Keystone Growth Academy
Zoë Kravitz says Beyoncé was 'so supportive' of that 'Blink Twice' needle drop
View
Date:2025-04-13 19:38:57
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! (713)
Related
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- A small police department in Minnesota’s north woods offers free canoes to help recruit new officers
- Rhode Island lawmakers and advocates working to address soaring housing costs
- NFL Week 14 picks: Will Cowboys topple Eagles, turn playoff race on its head?
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- George Brett's competitiveness, iconic moments highlight new MLB Network documentary
- LeBron James, Bucks among favorites as NBA's wildly successful In-Season tourney concludes
- Matthew McConaughey's Reacts to Heartwarming Tribute From 15-Year-Old Son Levi
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Biden heads to Las Vegas to showcase $8.2B for 10 major rail projects around the country
Ranking
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- It was a great year for music. Here are our top songs including Olivia Rodrigo and the Beatles
- Six French teens await a verdict over their alleged roles in Islamic extremist killing of a teacher
- Oprah Winfrey opens up about weight loss transformation: 'I intend to keep it that way'
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Dutch police arrest a Syrian accused of sexual violence and other crimes in Syria’s civil war
- Allies of Russian opposition leader Navalny post billboards asking citizens to vote against Putin
- New US-Mexico agreement to monitor foreign investments comes as more Chinese money flows into Mexico
Recommendation
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
Moo moo Subaru: Enthusiastic owners take page from Jeep playbook with rubber cow trend
Donald Trump back in court today as New York fraud trial nears end
Is Vicki Gunvalson Returning for Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18? She Says...
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
The UNLV shooting victims have been identified. Here's what we know.
Youngkin calls for increased state spending on child care programs
Mystery of a tomato missing in space for months has been solved, and a man exonerated