The movie, Get Out, is about a worst case scenario for an interracial couple. This film follows the life of young black photographer, Chris, who is in a relationship with a white woman, Rose. All is well until the soul-churning mentioning of the all so familiar cliché: meeting the parents.
Chris is hesitant at first asking if his girlfriend mentioned to them that he was black. In 2018, you would think most parents would be open to the idea of interracial relationships or have the ability to check their child’s social media site to see who they're dating.
Fast forward to the actual meeting of the parents and they are as cliché as they come. They are wealthy and tone deaf due to their traditional whiteness. The father is a neurosurgeon and the mother is a therapist that practices hypnosis.
They exchange awkward conversations of their fascination of black people/culture and if given the chance, they would have voted for Obama a third time. The movie creeps along when Chris is greeted by the two black employees at the house. They seem to be in a trance of some sort but the audience isn’t made aware of this until later.
One night, Chris is unable to sleep and proceeds to smoke a cigarette. He runs into Rose's mother who is downstairs sipping tea. She begins to counsel him about his life and his past. A series of events take place that I can’t address lest I spoil the movie. Let’s just say, I was “sunk” in my seat with suspense.
The movie concluded with an interesting twist and we watch Chris do what very few African American do in horror flicks…. Survive. (SPOILER). My initial reaction was satisfied to say the least although my peers within the black community would claim this to be a horror masterpiece.
Many pointed to the films racial undertones and horrific take on interracial relationships. Some even went as far as believing what they saw in the movie to be true and felt this as a common practice among white folks.
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! I don’t know about all that. Without giving away too much, I do believe white people have some creepy quirks and fetishes but the events that transpire in this film is bit of a stretch. My advice would be to watch and enjoy the movie.
If you try to find meaning out of a satirical form of entertainment by stretching your imagination to fit your agenda, then you probably are in the sunken place. Sorry, another spoiler.
Jordan Peele wrote the story "Get Out" as a satirical take on race in America. He addressed issues of wealthy liberals who view themselves as champions for civil rights.
The reaction from the film was mixed with some relating to the hardships of Chris and others claimed this as the best comedy in years. The message behind the film was simple: don’t get into an interracial relationship. Just kidding.
I am happy that Jordan Peele was celebrated for his film. He managed to spark controversy, make tons of money, and win an Academy Award. With so much success early on, I am curious to see if he can match the same success and continue to break new ground in the industry.
This gives hope for young African Americans like myself to pursue a career in the film industry. I can't wait to see films from the people he inspired and their chance to share fresh stories.
