Director: Jordan Peele
By Alex Watson
Coming across as a socially conscious version of The Stepford Wives, Jordan Peele's horror-comedy Get Out is a remarkable piece of work. Magnificently creating an uneasy suspense, Peele's commentary on racial tensions in America gives both laughs and frights in equal measure. While the jump scares will be memorable, what's underneath the hood is more thought provoking. One part of comedy duo Key and Peele- this director is used to making us think. This effort, however, will have us reviewing everything on the way out.
Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) is a photographer dating Rose Armitage (Allison Williams). This weekend they are heading to meet Rose's parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) for the first time. While the meeting initially goes well, Chris soon becomes bothered by the overly nice behaviour of the African-American servants. Also, Rose's mother seems keen on hypnotising him to rid him of a smoking habit! During a party where all the families affluent white friends seem to visit, Chris' worst fears will begin to surface.
From the very beginning of Get Out there is an uneasy sense that not everything is as it seems. Rose assures her Chris that his race will not be a problem and her father awkwardly tells him he would have voted for Obama to have a third term. What could have been your typical horror of mixed race couple been harassed by narrow-minded morons is smartly turned on its head. From the moment he arrives, he notices both the African-American servants are acting in a way that is troubling. While the family and their friends are welcoming, there is also a notion that he is being sized up for something. Peele's ensures that things are not only awkward to the extreme but that his audience is willing our hero to run away quickly.
While this is a smart commentary on race relations, Peele also blends a genuinely original and terrifying horror film. Throughout there are numerous scares which both spook us and provide nervous laughter. The side story of Chris's best friend Rodney who works for TSA provides the bulk of belly laughs. His attempt at explaining his theory about his friend's possible abduction to the authorities is just side-splitting. Rose's family from the outset come across as perhaps too accommodating towards Chris. Her brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones), seems determined to make him like MMA while mother Missy's attempts to hypnotise him reeks of something sinister. While for the early part Chris politely accepts these misgivings, soon he becomes like an animal caught in a trap.
The big reveal might impress some but confuse other- nonetheless, it's an interesting twist. Impressively Peele scales back on frightening people in the movie's finale and instead focuses on making things as tense as possible. Even his death ideas are original- ever seen a man killed by a stag's head? Well ticked that one off the list in 2017. The tight and claustrophobic feel is one that builds to stifling levels. Peele emerges as a real talent during this excellently executed sequence but he also keeps our brains ticking as we mull over the messages he gives the audience. Get Out is a movie that is a very smart type of horror. With racism at a difficult stage in the US, this movie will inspire debate in the coming months.
British actor Daniel Kaluuya emerges a real talent as Chris and his gradual horror towards his situation is electric. At first happy to go along with the families behaviour, Kaluuya gives this character a wonderful paranoid edge from the moment he reaches the house. His character is one that always uses his head and due to these smarts, we hope he will find a way out. Allison Williams in her feature debut is also impressive. For those of us who have watched her in HBO series Girls, we are aware of her ability to play privileged people. In Peele's movie, her character unlike her slightly clueless family is appalled at the vulgarity on display and seems to share her partner's fear. Lil Rel Howery nearly steals the show with a vocal and charismatic turn as best friend Rodney.
Get Out is quite possibly the smartest horror film offering you will witness this year. On its social commentary alone this is essential viewing.
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