Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’ Issues Trigger Warning for ‘Sexual Violence’ and ‘Mature Themes’ Ahead of Release

Amazon MGM Studios has issued a trigger warning ahead of the release of “Blink Twice,” the directorial debut from Zoë Kravitz, out in theaters Aug. 23.

“Trigger warning: We are proud to finally share ‘Blink Twice’ with audiences in theaters worldwide this week. ‘Blink Twice’ is a psychological thriller about the abuse of power. While this is a fictionalized movie, it contains mature themes and depictions of violence — including sexual violence,” reads the message, posted to X. “This may be upsetting or triggering for some viewers. For resources that offer support, visit BlinkTwiceResources.com.”

“Blink Twice” is rated R for “strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language throughout, and some sexual references,” according to BlinkTwiceResources.com, which is housed on MGM’s website. The site provides information about the RAINN sexual assault hotline and the organization No More, adding: “The film explores themes of sexual violence, power dynamics, and the complex experiences of sexual abuse survivors. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence — it is NOT your fault and you are NOT alone.”

Channing Tatum stars in “Blink Twice” as a mysterious billionaire tech mogul who invites a cocktail waitress, Frida (Naomi Ackie), and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) to vacation on his private island. As shown in the trailer, things start to go wrong when Jess disappears, and some of the other guests on the island begin to grow forgetful.

Aside from MPA ratings, which alert viewers of mature content such as language, violence and nudity, it’s rare for a studio to issue this type of trigger warning ahead of a film’s release. It’s especially surprising in the case of “Blink Twice,” a psychological thriller with secretive plot details that have been kept rather vague by Amazon’s marketing materials. (Although, the studio did ax its original title, “Pussy Island.”)

Trigger warnings and other types of content advisories are a growing trend in movies and TV, as Hollywood tries to find a balance between ruining plot twists and helping viewers avoid trauma. In the years following Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why,” a growing number of series including “Baby Reindeer,” “Severance” and “Better Call Saul” have warned audiences of sensitive content, sometimes pointing viewers to hotlines and other resources.

Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman gave “Blink Twice” a positive review, calling it “a post-#MeToo feminist party-girl nightmare thriller that’s been made with an unusual sense of intimacy.”