Us is Jordan Peele’s followup to
his Oscar winning social horror gem, Get
Out, that uses a broader canvas and a more ambitious concept to feature
terrific ensemble performances particularly Lupita Nyong’o.
Flashing
back and forth from 1986, a young Adelaide (Nyong’o) wanders into a mysterious,
carnival funhouse and witnesses a life changing vision that will haunt her. Now married, and a mother of a teenage
daughter and younger son, she and her husband (Winston Duke) take a family trip
to the beach that triggers traumatic memories for her. When Adelaide’s family comes face to face with ominous doppelgangers one
night, an evening of unimaginable terror follows.
Nyong’o is
excellent in a demanding, dual role, quite a contrast of personas. Told primarily
from her point of view, it’s a deeply personal, frightening journey to the unknown even as her protective, maternal
instincts kick in.
The
film establishes the deadly threat early and compels the family to find an
inner strength and resourcefulness to survive.
There are surprises and twists that will keep you wondering where the convoluted
plot will go. It’s a film filled with homages to classics like The Birds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Sixth Sense, and even moments of dark humor. Music is employed effectively as Peele plants
clues and details in his devious mosaic that includes nightmarish images and instances
of recurring motifs that may not be coincidences.
There
are open-ended questions like ‘Where do these people come from?’ and ‘Why
are they here?’, but Peele, who wrote
and directed, sustains the mounting tension from beginning to memorable end.
The film will leave viewers with a lingering uneasiness, testament to Peele’s
abilities to realize a classic Twilight Zone theme.
***1/2*
of **** stars (add ½ star for Jordan Peele fans)
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