Don't Blink

Director - Travis Oates (Ask Alphonso)
Starring - Zack Ward (A Christmas Story, Resident Evil: Apocalypse), Mena Suvari (Day of the Dead), and Brian Austin Green (Monster Heroes)
Release Date - 2014
Genre - "You might be next"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometimes I will come across a movie that I have never heard of but I am so intrigued by it that I have to see it.  Most of the time these movies tend to let me down because they can never live up to the expectations I have set in my mind for the film.  Not long ago I was sent a press release for the film Don't Blink.  I typically stay away from thrillers because they take the educated route and give the viewer a film that makes them think.  However, Don't Blink looked so damn good that I had to see it.  I reached out to the fine folks that sent me the press release for the film and they were kind enough to send me a review copy.  Thanks guys for sending me that!

     The film follows a group of young men and women as they head out to a secluded resort out in the middle of the woods.  However, when they arrive they noticed a few things are out of order.  They find a bunch of cars with the keys still turned on in the ignition but the cars have ran out of gas.  They also find food in the kitchen of the resort that have been prepared but not touched.  Not long after arriving one of their group goes missing.  Her new boyfriend rushes off to look for her as everyone begins to panic.  They soon begin to fight amongst themselves with some wanting to leave thinking that the people previously there evacuated while the others want to stay due to running low on gas and not knowing what had happened to everyone.  As they fight and bicker they start to notice others are missing.  They quickly realize that when someone is left alone they disappear.  They try to stick together but members panic and a gun is brought into play.  Over time they drop like flies until on two is left...and then one.
     I would enjoy thrillers more if they were just simple stories without the technicalities and twists.  Thrillers try to go above and beyond their means and tries to mind fuck the viewer.  Don't Blink didn't try to make an over-complicated thriller.  Instead, it made a simple, yet effective thriller.  Hell, Don't Blink is your working class thriller that does not try to change the thriller genre but give the viewer something fun to watch.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The entire cast is amazing but Zack Ward's performance is fucking outstanding.  Many of you may remember Ward as Farkus in the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story.  He went on to have minor roles in several horror films but after seeing him in this it is a shame he does not have more leading roles.  I could honestly see him wielding a knife and hunting down kids partying while cracking cheesy one liners.  The story for this one is one that I have seen a few times but never like this.  The story for this one is very simple and very effective.  We have seen other sci-fi films where people go missing in the same manner but never in such a serious tone.  Lucky for us the cast and crew is able to pull that off.  Finally, the film does lack on screen kills but there is still tones of blood and great practical effects.  We do get a few gun shot wounds and these scenes are painted with blood.  Overall, Don't Blink is a solid thriller that has some great suspense and a powerful cast.  If you are looking for a brilliant yet simple thriller then look no further!