Blink

R

1994

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

List

67%

27 Reviews

Tomatometer

51%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Blinded at the abusive hands of her mother as a young girl, Emma Brody (Madeleine Stowe) is now a musician in Chicago. After an operation, she partly regains her sight, but sometimes she can remember things only hours after first seeing them. When she thinks she sees the person who murdered her neighbor, the police detective John Hallstrom (Aidan Quinn) becomes involved both with the case and with Emma. Now the killer is after Emma, and John struggles to protect her as they unravel the mystery.

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Steve D

Disposable thriller that will entertain.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

ronald h

"Blink" is a less-than mediocre thriller whose director hoped that casting two of the big box office stars of the 90's would carry the film in spite of its awfulness. It doesn't work. I always try to analyze bad movies: Is it a bad script, bad acting, bad direction, bad cinematography, or a combination of elements? In this case, I thought the direction was pretty good, and the camera's portrayal of Chicago is actually quite good. The script and the acting--that's another thing. The story is plausible enough to maintain your credulity--at first. But it rapidly degenerates--as per the usual Hollywood formula--into the "cop falling in love with a beautiful female witness who's a potential murder victim" cliche. And things go downhill from there. Madeline Stowe was the Hollywood bimbo du jour in the 90's. I have no idea if she can really act. But watching her try to pull off the role of Emma, a feisty, independent blind girl, is embarrassing. Even before her vision is magically restored by eye surgery, her makeup and hair are always perfect. And her fierce independence eventually vanishes after she meets the investigating cop, played by Aidan Quinn. That's what females are supposed to do when Aidan Quinn wants to take them to bed: turn into needy damsels in distress. Give me a break. Quinn's performance barely rises barely to the level of a cop in any given TV series. He's got no nuance, no facial or body language, and he delivers his lines like a kid in a high school play. The best actor in "Blink" is Ralph, Emma's seeing eye dog. He's fantastic. He has everything: facial expression and body language, and he's totally believable. I'm serious. Watch him closely. Spoiler alert: He is seriously injured about halfway into the film, and he disappears into an animal hospital. At that point, the film becomes 80 percent less interesting. Thankfully, he returns at the end. Too bad we don't get to see more of him. When a dog is the best actor in a movie, the movie is a dog.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I have mostly home bound due to recovering from the flu. I was feeling restless, so I tried this movie out for size. I gave the movie 3 stars because of Madeline Stowe's strong performance. Aidan Quinn was "over the top" in a role that was poorly scripted for him. However, I must say that the story, and its telling, was suspenseful, and I am glad that I watched it on Netflix streaming rather having paid money to see it in the theaters years ago.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A decent thriller with a strong acting by Stowe..

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Average film. Above average Madeleine.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

william s

The premise sounds familiar as does the script but good performances make this thriller passable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Michael Apted

Director

Madeleine Stowe

Emma Brody

Aidan Quinn

Detective John Hallstrom

Laurie Metcalf

Candice

James Remar

Thomas Ridgely

Peter Friedman

Dr. Ryan Pierce

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

The film is made with high professionalism, and well acted by its principals.. It is, however, none too believable.

Feb 29, 2024

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Michael Apted's Blink walks a fine line, but if you're willing to accept it on its frankly formulaic terms, it delivers some good jolts.

Feb 15, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Bob Shelton

Birmingham Post

It's a clever plot with Stowe generating a lot of tension as she becomes the killer's target but it doesn't quite sustain the impact that would make it an outstanding thriller.

Feb 29, 2024

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an interesting premise that's employed to mostly engaging effect...

Rated: 3/4

Jan 2, 2021

Full Review

Kathi Maio

Sojourner

That Emma defends herself in the end can provide no real redemption for a character who has been consistently compromised by her creators.

Aug 15, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Blinded at the abusive hands of her mother as a young girl, Emma Brody (Madeleine Stowe) is now a musician in Chicago. After an operation, she partly regains her sight, but sometimes she can remember things only hours after first seeing them. When she thinks she sees the person who murdered her neighbor, the police detective John Hallstrom (Aidan Quinn) becomes involved both with the case and with Emma. Now the killer is after Emma, and John struggles to protect her as they unravel the mystery.

Director: Michael Apted
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.7M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround

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