Photo Credit: impawards.com.
By Joshua Samuel
Get Out is the directorial debut of actor and writer Jordan Peele. He is known for the sketch comedy series, Key & Peele. Not only is Get Out unlike anything Peele has ever done, but it is a breath of fresh air for the whole horror/thriller genre. The brilliance of Get Out is in its concept. The movie uses the horror genre to shed light on racism in America and the fear and anxieties that many black people are likely to face and feeling the uneasiness of being the only minority in a room.
The plot is about a black man named Chris, played by actor Daniel Kaluuya, who is in an interracial relationship with a white woman, Rose (Alison Williams). The couple goes to meet Rose’s parents at their house. At first things appear normal. Rose’s parents seem to be supportive of their relationship. But, things become increasingly strange when Chris is told that Rose’s mother is a hypnotist. things get more intense as he uncovers the dark secret that the family is hiding.
Chris finds out that the family has black housekeepers who are acting very strange and robotic. Chris’ interactions with the black characters in the movie gets stranger as the movie progresses. In one scene, Chris tries to give a friend of the family a fist bump and he instead gives Chris a handshake.
What stands out about the film is its perfect blend of social commentary and entertainment value. The movie never feels preachy or heavy-handed. You are immediately strapped into the scary, sometimes hilarious ride that doesn’t end until the credits roll across the dark screen.
The movie is much deeper than it appears, filled with many clever, creative analogies and hidden meanings. The intro song, Redbone by Childish Gambino, was chosen specifically by Peele as a warning to Chris to “stay woke” to the events that are taking place and is equally important for the audience to be attentive while watching it.
Issues with cultural appropriation, stereotyping, racial profiling, and subliminal racism are handled with a certain subtlety that could easily be missed on a first watch.
Get Out balances it’s messaging and thrills with a hearty doses of comedy with Chris’ best friend Rod, the TSA officer (Lil Rel Howry) who is hilarious and plays to the audience by saying exactly what they are thinking. His scenes have an entire theater laughing but never took away from the dark and spooky tone of the movie.
The movie goes against the predictability of horror movie tropes by having a main character who is smart and savvy. Get Out had so many layers that people are still finding new subtle things and posting them online to unravel all the thoughts and effort put into executing the concept.
This movie is deserving of it’s amazing first week sales and 100 percent rating on RottenTomatoes. The movie is also already part of pop culture. The “Get Out Challenge” which has people on social media recreating the scene where the groundskeeper, Walter, runs straight toward Chris at full speed and does a sharp left turn.
Get Out exists in a time where racial tensions are at a high point. With Trump’s presidency and the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the national spotlight, the movie uses the current social climate to inspire a piece of art that is horrifying, creative and smart.
