Zo Kravitz is aware of the comparison people have been making between Channing Tatums Blink Twice character and Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with IndieWire published Thursday, the actress, who makes her directorial debut with the film starring Tatum and Naomi Ackie, reiterated that despite similarities, Tatums character and the story is all a metaphor and not based on Epstein. Kravitz wrote the film alongsideHigh Fidelityseries writer E.T. Feigenbaum.

The film centers on Ackies character Frida, who is whisked away on an island vacation by billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). However, things take a darker turn. In Ackies Hollywood Reporter cover story, the film is described as a sort of aGet OutmeetsPromising Young Woman and a social satire plus class warfare plus gender politics. When asked whether Slater not being inspired by anyone in particular can represent more of the monsters that the public is not aware of, Kravitz agreed. Yeah, and its all a metaphor. Its not so literal. So that [Epstein] situation, that particular place and person,that documentaryor whatever it was, came out not even halfway through writing [Blink Twice], she explained.

She further explained why she set the film on an island: But again, I set this on an island because I wanted to isolate the characters and have them deal with this situation. I was thinking about, again, the Garden of Eden and Lord of the Flies, and Im not just also talking about powerful men at that level. It could be your husband. It could be the man down the street thats following you home. It could be your boss, it could be a family member. Theres power on different levels and abuse of power on different levels. And so, how do you encapsulate this big idea into specific characters and try to find a way to make it relatable? People connect that to specific things, but thats not the way it was thought about, if that makes sense.

Given the film had a seven-year journey to the screen, Kravitz noted that the script evolved in very cool ways, especially amid the #MeToo conversations at the time and now.

The subject matter is so ancient, its power, the oppression of women. Its the most basic things in the world. Im talking about the Garden of Eden and the Serpent of Knowledge, and Im starting way back at the very beginning, and yet it feels so current, which is really interesting, Kravitz said. Which is maybe why I felt like this should be written about. But when youre writing about something that is still so alive that it keeps changing and you have to keep adapting in terms of the culture and the characters and what behavior is acceptable? Whats a red flag now? What is in the characters consciousness in terms of, Girl, dont get on that plane with that guy. Havent you read the news lately? And so it was a cool thing to have to keep on keeping up with the times.

Kravitz added that at the same time, nothing was changing and stories have continued to break about powerful men abusing that power.

These stories would break about these people, and everyone wants to act all shocked. And my whole thing was, Youreshockedthat powerful men are abusing their power? This is ashockto you? And its been so important to make it clear that this is not about anyone in particular. And boiling down what were really talking about in this film to two people is problematic.

Kravitz further reflected on the films plot to THR, explaining that the story is personal. This story is so personal to me in terms of exploring what it feels like to be a woman, and of course when Im talking to my girlfriends, we all have similar experiences, but when you go outside of your circle, it can be a little scary, Kravitz told THR. I remember talking to Naomi [Ackie] about our relationships with power and what it feels like being told to be invisible, and it was a relief to realize, Oh, you vibe with this.

Blink Twice releases in theaters Aug. 23.