Jordan Peele, of Key and Peele and Get Out fame, does it once again directing an incredibly refreshingly original horror movie. With the help of an incredibly talented cast with the likes of Lupita Nyong’o and Elizabeth Moss, he creates a 2-hour horror/suspense ride. Apart from the movie’s much-appreciated originality, the performances from Lupita N’yongo is what makes this movie really worth catching in theaters.
Since her breakout role in Twelve Years a Slave, Nyong’o hasn’t had a role that’s really been able to highlight her acting skills. But under the careful direction of Peele who clearly recognizes her talent, she is made shine like a wildfire.
Although it does manage to successfully ensnare you in its horror web it is absolutely hilarious. As it’s been proven more than once now Peele always introduces a comedic aspect from his background as a comic into all of his projects and Us is no exception.
This movie has the entire theatre digging their nails into their seats from fear and from trying to hold in laughter at the same time. It’s so refreshing to be able to see an original multidimensional movie that is responsible handled with care by the proper team and allowed to come to fruitful fruition.
Going back to the movie itself movie buff will be happy to recognize some subtle movie references to other pieces of horror cinema throughout cinematic history as well as Jordan Peele’s own short yet prolific career. People who are usually more intrigued by ideas or stories rather than the name of whatever big-shot Hollywood actor is attached to the movie. This movie just barely runs over 2 hours long yet at no point does it ever feels like it’s dragging or as if your waiting for the movie to start. It’s well crafted and edited, the attention to detail and care put into this film are obvious yet it isn’t without its own flaws which are minimal when compared to its strengths.
Although the plot of the movie is interesting, the little foreshadowing clues and exposition scenes were either too convoluted and honestly kinda cheap. However when viewing it these thoughts do not cross your head because you’re too preoccupied with the interesting characters, their struggle for survival, and their genuine realism is so astonishing that you are transfixed by them at the moment. If nothing else this movie does well to capture your attention.
I’m usually an adamant hater of the creepy/”misunderstood” younger brother trope, yet none of the characters ever feel like plain cookie cutter archetypes or soulless copies of something else they feel very real and so for the viewer, everything they experience so do they with much more ease.
The movies deep thematic intertext has been publicly discussed by its director Jordan Peele, I won’t spoil it for you, states that the movie at its core is about duality and the ability to change over time, but I’m not completely convinced. Catch Jordan Peele’s Us in theaters now and let me know what you think.