Don't Blink (film)

Last updated
Don't Blink
DontBlink(film).jpg
Film poster
Directed by Travis Oates
Written byTravis Oates
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJayson Crothers
Edited by
  • Travis Oates
  • Lana Wolverton
Music byMike Verta
Production
companies
  • Echo Wolf Productions
  • Moorlock Machinations
  • Compelling Entertainment
Distributed by Vertical Entertainment
Release date
  • September 18, 2014 (2014-09-18)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Don't Blink (also known as Last Stop) is a 2014 American psychological horror film written and directed by Travis Oates. The film stars Mena Suvari, Brian Austin Green, Joanne Kelly, and Zack Ward, who also served as producer.

Contents

The plot follows a group of 10 friends who visit a remote resort, only to discover that the place is deserted. As they attempt to uncover the mystery behind the missing guests, they are horrified to find that they too begin to disappear one by one.

Don't Blink was released on September 18, 2014, in a limited release.

Plot

A group of ten friends—Jack, his girlfriend Tracy, her brother Lucas, Alex, his friend Sam, and Sam's girlfriend Charlotte, among others—arrive at a remote, isolated resort. After a long journey, they discover the resort completely deserted, with signs of sudden abandonment, such as half-eaten food and unpacked luggage. They soon realize their phones don't work, the gas pumps are locked, and the strange occurrences start to unsettle the group.

As they explore the area to search for answers, Tracy suddenly disappears, prompting increasing panic. Lucas and Noah follow, disappearing in mysterious circumstances as well. When tensions rise, Sam steals a gun from Alex and accidentally shoots him. In desperation, Sam drives away with Charlotte, but Sam vanishes, leaving Charlotte in shock.

Back at the resort, Jack and Ella grow closer, but Ella too disappears after an intimate moment. Meanwhile, there's a knock on the door, Jack answers it to find its Noah, claiming he must have fallen down a ditch. Alex grows more paranoid and violent, torturing Noah in a misguided attempt to gain answers. He then drags Noah outside and leaves him, Noah then vanishes. Alex eventually kills himself, convinced that he can at least leave behind proof of his existence. However, even his body vanishes.

As Jack and Claire wait for the authorities, the situation grows more dire. Claire is left alone when Jack disappears after a brief moment of microsleep. She is briefly reassured when emergency responders arrive, but she soon finds herself utterly alone once again, with no sign of the emergency workers, leaving her isolated in the resort.

Cast

Production

Filming for Don't Blink took place in Ruidoso, New Mexico, from January 9 to February 1, 2010. [1] [2] Director Travis Oates, a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, incorporated homages to Hitchcock's style throughout the film. Oates aimed to create a horror film with a unique twist—there is no traditional villain, no blood, and no on-screen deaths. [3] The role of Alex was specifically written for Zack Ward, a close friend of Oates. The director intentionally left the film's ending ambiguous, believing that the lack of explicit answers would divide audiences but ultimately enhance the fear factor. [4] During production, unplanned snowfall occurred and was cleverly incorporated into the film's script. [5]

Release

Don't Blink was given a limited release by Vertical Entertainment on September 18, 2014. [6]

Reception

Mark L. Miller of Ain't It Cool News praised Don't Blink for its unique approach, stating that "Some may be frustrated with the lack of answers here, but if you're willing to look a little outside of the box in terms of movie monsters, this one is going to be a pleaser." [7] Sarah Boslaugh of Playback noted that while Don't Blink isn't a "cinematic masterpiece," it serves as an "OK horror movie perfect for home viewing with a group of friends." [8] Gordon Sullivan of DVD Verdict added that the film is "an okay little supernatural mystery," though it may leave some viewers wanting more from its plot. [9]

Home media

Don't Blink was released on DVD by Vertical Entertainment on October 14, 2014. The company later re-released the film on August 28, 2019 [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Hoppus</span> American musician (born 1972)

Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician and record producer. He is the co-lead vocalist, co-founder, and bassist for the rock band Blink-182 and the only member to appear on every album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mena Suvari</span> American actress (born 1979)

Mena Alexandra Suvari is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. The accolades she has received include a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

<i>All Saints</i> (TV series) Australian television medical drama

All Saints is an Australian medical drama television series that first screened on the Seven Network on 24 February 1998. Set in the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital, it focused on the staff of Ward 17 until its closure in 2004, which is when the focus changed and began following the staff of the Emergency Department. The show was produced by John Holmes alongside Jo Porter, MaryAnne Carroll and Di Drew. The final episode aired on 27 October 2009, completing its record-breaking 12-year run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atreyu</span> American metalcore band

Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Yorba Linda, California, formed in 1998. The band's current line-up consists of clean vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, and bassist and unclean vocalist Marc "Porter" McKnight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Barker</span> American drummer (born 1975)

Travis Landon Barker is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the rock band Blink-182. He has collaborated with hip hop artists, is a member of the rap rock group Transplants, co-founded the rock band +44, and has also joined Box Car Racer, Antemasque and Goldfinger. Barker was a frequent collaborator with the late DJ AM, with whom he formed the duo TRV$DJAM. Due to his fame, Rolling Stone referred to him as "punk's first superstar drummer", as well as one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Hanks</span> American actor (born 1977)

Colin Lewes Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his role as Gus Grimly on the FX crime series Fargo (2014–2015), which earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Critics' Choice Television Award.

Hayley Smith (<i>Home and Away</i>) Soap opera character

Hayley Rose Smith is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. She was portrayed from September 1998 to September 2005 by actress Rebecca Cartwright and from September to November 2005 by Ella Scott Lynch, after Cartwright left the show for personal reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasquatch! Music Festival</span> Annual music festival in George, Washington, United States

Sasquatch! Music Festival was an annual music festival held at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, United States. It took place on Memorial Day weekend, running for three to four days.

<i>The Forgotten</i> (1973 film) 1973 horror film directed by S. F. Brownrigg

The Forgotten is a 1973 independent horror film directed by S. F. Brownrigg, written by Tim Pope and starring Bill McGhee, former Playboy model Rosie Holotik, and Annabelle Weenick about homicidal patients at an insane asylum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blink-182</span> American rock band

Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, California, in 1992. Their current and best-known line-up consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Though their sound has diversified throughout their career, their musical style, described as pop-punk, blends catchy pop melodies with fast-paced punk rock. Their lyrics primarily focus on relationships, adolescent frustration, and maturity—or lack thereof. The group emerged from a suburban, Southern California skate punk scene and first gained notoriety for high-energy live shows and irreverent humor.

Travis Oates is an American voice actor. He was born in Modesto, California. He continued the role of Piglet in My Friends Tigger & Pooh and other Winnie the Pooh-related media after the death of John Fiedler in 2005. He and Jim Cummings were the only two voice actors to return for the 2011 film. He also was one of the original co-hosts of the G4TV original program Arena, a competitive gaming show with Wil Wheaton in 2002. Oates owns and manages the ACME Comedy Theatre in Costa Mesa, California. He directed the 2014 film Don't Blink.

<i>Danis House</i> British childrens television series

Dani's House is a British children's comedy series broadcast on CBBC and starring Dani Harmer. The first series premiered on 26 September 2008, and its fifth series concluded on 19 July 2012. It has received several awards and nominations from BAFTA Kids. A spin-off called Dani's Castle aired from 2013 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Box Car Racer</span> American punk band

Box Car Racer was an American punk band formed in San Diego, California, in 2001. The band was a side-project of Blink-182 members Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, with David Kennedy of Hazen Street completing the band's studio lineup. A bassist and friend of Barker, Anthony Celestino later joined the band as a bassist. DeLonge created the project to pursue darker ideas he felt unsuited to his work with Blink-182.

<i>Wasted on the Young</i> 2010 Australian film

Wasted on the Young is a 2011 Australian thriller film directed by Ben C. Lucas and starring Oliver Ackland, Adelaide Clemens, and Alex Russell. Shot by cinematographer Dan Freene, it tells the story of a traumatic high school incident that sets off a fatal chain of events for two brothers. The film was shot in 2009 at an ultra modern mansion in City Beach and at Edith Cowan University's Mount Lawley and Joondalup campuses. The film received $750,000 in ScreenWest funding through its West Coast Visions initiative, as well as funding from Screen Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CeCe Drake</span> Fictional character

Charlotte DiLaurentis is a fictional character created by I. Marlene King for the American television series Pretty Little Liars and its spin-off web series Pretty Dirty Secrets, portrayed by Vanessa Ray. Introduced in the third season under the pseudonym CeCe Drake, Charlotte was a friend and mentor to Alison DiLaurentis before her disappearance. After moving back to Rosewood two years later, Charlotte took over Mona Vanderwaal's reign as "A", an anonymous figure that blackmails, stalks and tortures the main characters of the franchise. Under another anonymous identity known as Red Coat, Charlotte created and led "the A-Team", a group of people who helped "A" in their schemes. During the sixth season, Charlotte is revealed to be Alison's cousin and adoptive sister. After being unmasked as "A", Charlotte revealed she was assigned male at birth as "Charles DiLaurentis" and underwent gender reassignment surgery in her youth. Charlotte was then killed off following the five year time jump, with the killer eventually being revealed as Mona the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Gaskarth</span> British musician from Baltimore, Maryland

Alexander William Gaskarth is a British musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the American rock band All Time Low since its formation in 2003.

Lennon or McCartney is a 2014 Canadian documentary short film directed by Matt Schichter. The film is a compilation of 550 celebrities' responses, taken from interviews throughout the decade, to the question of which of the two former Beatles is superior: John Lennon or Paul McCartney.

<i>Army of the Dead</i> 2021 film by Zack Snyder

Army of the Dead is a 2021 American post-apocalyptic zombie heist film directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shay Hatten and Joby Harold, based on a story he also created. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, and Garret Dillahunt. It follows a group of mercenaries who plan a Las Vegas casino heist during a zombie apocalypse.

Zachary Joseph Cervini is an American record producer, vocal producer, songwriter, and mixing engineer. Cervini's work includes collaborations with Simple Plan, Limp Bizkit, Blink-182, All Time Low, Machine Gun Kelly, Yungblud, Bring Me the Horizon, 5 Seconds of Summer, Avicii, Halsey, Good Charlotte, Grimes, Bishop Briggs, Poppy, Bad Omens, Architects, Waterparks, and Sleeping with Sirens. His work on Blink-182's California landed him his first Grammy Nomination for Best Rock Album in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

References

  1. ↑ Kalvelage, Jim (2010-01-07). "Lights, camera..." Ruidoso News . Retrieved 2015-09-15.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Curran, Mike (2010-01-19). "Alto film project proceeds smoothly". Ruidoso News . Retrieved 2015-09-15.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ Wickham, Terry (2015-02-10). "Travis Oates on directing Don't Blink". Manta Ray Pictures. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  4. ↑ Haberfelner, Mike. "An Interview with Travis Oates, Writer and Director of Don't Blink". (re)Search My Trash. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  5. ↑ Haberfelner, Mike. "An Interview with Zack Ward, Star and Producer of Don't Blink". (re)Search My Trash. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  6. ↑ Moore, Debi (2014-09-17). "Don't Blink or You'll Miss this New Release". Dread Central . Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  7. ↑ Miller, Mark L. (2014-12-12). "DON'T BLINK (2014)". Ain't It Cool News . Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  8. ↑ Boslaugh, Sarah (2014-10-18). "Don't Blink (Vertical Entertainment, NR)". Playback. Archived from the original on 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Gordon (2014-10-31). "Don't Blink". DVD Verdict . Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  10. ↑ "Don't Blink (2014) - Travis Oates". Allmovie.com. Allmovie. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.