Roommate: C’mon man! Let’s go watch Get Out, it comes out tonight!
Myself: You really want me to go watch a movie that promotes racism? Really?
I’m going to have to fight myself tooth and nail in order not to spoil anything for you here, but nonetheless, I hope to persuade you to go see Get Out. The movie prompts discussion of racial inequality and injustice through entertainment, a gem for every generation to enjoy.
When I saw the trailer on social media, I won't lie, I was immediately turned off. Who wants to go see a movie that cashes in on a horrible issue such as racism? Even more so to go and support it? Then I saw who directed it: Jordan Peele. Mr. Peele’s counterpart is Keegan-Michael Key, and together they create Key & Peele, a satirical small-skit style show featured on Comedy Central. Substitute Teacher and East/West College Bowl are some of their most famous shorts. After connecting this I began to think, “Why Jordan? Why would you create this racist horror movie?”
After about an hour of arguing with my roommate about racist agendas being pushed by celebrities and politicians (another day, another time), I was in the car being forced to see this movie I knew I was bound to hate.
Nearly three hours and $11.50 later I said, “That. Was. Genius.”
Why the shift? How was I so determined to undermine anything negative about this film, and yet fail to do so?
Get Out smashes horror, satire, and racism into one incredible cinematic experience. The plot focuses around an African-American male and his, shall I say, “eventful” journey to meet his white girlfriend’s family for the first time. Without wasting any amount of time, the movie does exactly what the audience and America seem to not want to confront: charged racial tensions. But again, I must do this movie justice and preserve the genuine fright and suspense. Also, with any movie, you’re sure to have some people in strong opposition and those in high favor, but of all who I’ve talked to about this movie, I haven’t heard one negative review. How then, can a movie combine three very different genres of film and still be enjoyable? This is where the magic and creativity of Jordan Peele comes in. In his directorial debut, I believe he sets the bar high himself, leaving his fans itching for his next project. Additional fun fact: This movie was created with a “low-budget” of $4.5 million. Can you imagine what Jordan Peele could do with a high budget? In comparison, Hannibal cost $87 million and Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” ran about $150 million.
In addition to the unpredictability and freshness of this movie, what really makes it great is that it brings serious social issues to the foreground. After my roommate and I finished this movie, we talked about how, while “just a movie,” racism is still alive. This discussion can sometimes creep in the shadows of our everyday lives. Get Out is special because it shines a bright light on these issues but does so in a way that is inviting and entertaining. I know, I know, it’s strange, but if you’ve seen the movie, you understand.
A tool such as a movie being used for generating conversation about pressing issues is rare, and that is why I must end this article by saying if you haven’t seen Get Out, "get out" and go and see it. If you have, what did you think? As a (insert ethnicity here), how did you feel about it?
