Get Out
Dustin Chase
Writer, actor and comedian Jordan Peele is making his directorial debut with Get Out, the curious dark comedy horror film that has all the makings of a hit. Great buzz coming out of Sundance, Get Out has it’s sights set on mainstream tastes rather than the indie crowd. It’s a bit hard to describe on premise, but the vague description and lack of information in the trailer is on purpose. It’s produced by the guys at Blum House productions, who backed M. Night Shymalan’s The Visit, and both films have striking similarities. Get Out is smart, savvy, aware of the current political climate, but also very intent on getting the audience engaged and guaranteeing they have a good time regardless of how ridiculous things get on screen.
Chris (Kaluuya) is going to meet his girlfriend’s family for this first time this weekend. Rose (Williams) promises her parents are not racist, and the fact he is black won’t be “a thing”. They leave the city, headed to rural country, where The Armitage family have an expansive property, miles from the nearest neighbor, nestled quietly off the road. Dean (Whitford) and Missy (Keener) both in the medical field, greet Chris with hugs and awkward smiles as they welcome him to their home. Chris instantly begins to notice odd things around the Armitage property, most with seemingly reasonable explanations, until reason evaporates all together.
As funny as it is scary, with well-timed comedy quips that only add to the bizarre nature of the script.
It’s an unfortunate coincidence that both Get Out and A Cure for Wellness feature very similar car incidents with the deer family. Don’t let your hate for last weeks failed horror movie detour you from this one. Thankfully the comparisons between the two unusual horror films end there. Get Out has much in common with a certain 1957 horror thriller that was re-imagined in 2004 for modern audiences, but giving that title away would spoil too much of the fun. Get Out offers twists and turns that even the savviest movie fan won’t see coming. It’s as funny as it is scary, with well-timed comedy quips that only add to the bizarre nature of the script. The story finds itself in ridiculous, near X-Files like territory, a few times, which take things a bit too far off what the audience has been enjoying so far.
Get Out keeps the audience thoroughly entertained and on the edge of their seat for the entire film. Kaluuya has brilliant reactions to everything that’s put in front of him. A complete role reversal from his memorable performance in Sicario, showing-casing Kaluuya star making potential. Whitford is nearly unrecognizable and Keener especially play against their usual casting type. The use of the close-up is particularly well done as it makes the audience even more uncomfortable with a situation they can’t figure out. Smiling in this movie is a sign of terror. Get Out dares to be different. It benefits from new blood in the genre, thinking outside normal tropes, but adhering to the basic rules of a good horror movie.
Final Thought
Get Out is the first film of the year that offers ingenuity and fresh ideas into the box office.