One of the latest horror flicks to come to the big screen, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” which currently holds a 100 percent by top critics on the site Rotten Tomatoes. The film raked in $30.5 million on its opening weekend.
The movie shows a fresh perspective on horror which exposes a social demon like racism within the plot. Peele’s directorial debut focuses on both cultural and social observations of the current U.S. with a creepy twist with light comedy added which allows the audience to think more about the weight behind words.
The movie follows Chris, a talented photographer, as he visits his white, upper class girlfriend Rose’s home in a remote town. He voices concern about how her parents might react to her dating a black man, to which she brushes off by adamantly stating her parents couldn’t be racist because they “would’ve voted for Obama for a third term” if they could.
As the couple arrives to her upper middle class home, her parents greet them. Her dad hugging Chris and calling him “my man” repeatedly. Throughout the beginning portion of the movie the family repeatedly shows foot in mouth moments of ignorance toward Chris. As the scenes unfold the audience will find multiple unnerving moments from the seemingly too happy and self-claimed progressive family.
As the couple arrived to Rose’s home the camera focuses on the groundskeeper Walter who shows a glassy eyed look toward Chris and Rose’s arrival. The housekeeper Georgina shows the same cold exterior toward Chris. Chris attempts to speak with them to fill the uncomfortable gap of class or education between them. He feels as if there is some sort of underlying separation which causes the two workers to react so cold and strange in return to his attempts of connection. The interactions between the family and both Georgina and Walter, along with their references to both characters bring an uncomfortable feeling to both Chris and the audience.
The character development in Chris shows a well-rounded complex guy with a sensitive past and open, caring heart. He works hard to connect with Rose’s family, despite their not so subtle insults and backhanded compliments. His character shows sympathy and willingness to make it work with Rose out of his love for her. Even despite her unforgivable choices. The audience automatically feels for Chris as he becomes a loved character with a pure heart.
Even smaller roles held importance. Rod, Chris’s trusted and loyal best friend, serves as the much-needed comic relief in this movie. Even characters with few lines such as; Walter and Georgina bring plot development and keeps the audience wondering. When first shown, viewers can tell something is off about the two characters. They act cold, dazed and uncomfortable around Chris. Questions of whether they are hostile or resentful pop up until near the end when both viewers and Chris put the pieces together. Only then does the audience realize the full extent of deceit and wickedness happening within the film.
Peele sets the psychological horror with taxidermy deer heads, an old styled T.V. set and the foreshadowing Chris’s past and sensitivity in the car crash before arriving to Rose’s home. He builds a sinister and unnerving feeling toward the family who preach and claim broad mindedness, but later reveal their much darker intentions and untrustworthiness. The unsettling moments with Rose’s family and extended family friends bring a chilling factor. Especially as the movie heightens and delves deeper into a more horrific discovery.
Peele’s unsettling thriller combines both unsettling psychological horror along with adrenaline fueled jump scares with a little comedic relief throughout the film. This movie causes the audience to really think about the underlying theme of race and even class throughout the movie. There can be a lot to unpack from this movie, as Peele exposes social demons within society. Viewers will continue questioning and thinking about most things shown in the film even after the movie is finished.
