Get Out is an audacious piece of
filmmaking, deceptively simple, timely
in theme, and stunning in execution. It signals the rise of newbie writer/director
Jordan Peele (of Kay and Peele) as a talented filmmaker.
On
a weekend trip, Rose (Allison Williams) introduces her black boyfriend, Chris
(Daniel Kaluuya) to her parents, Dean (Bradley Whitford), a neurosurgeon
father, and Missy (Catherine Keener), a psychiatrist who also treats addictions
through hypnosis. They welcome Chris to
their household including Rose’s menacing brother, a black, female house
servant, and a black, male groundskeeper. As it happens to be an annual reunion
of friends and family, Chris meets new faces among the offbeat guests. When he notices unsettling events and strange,
ominous behavior, he must make a choice to save himself, but is it already too
late?
The
film has a Hitchcock feel with Chris and Rose seemingly the only normal people
among quirky characters. Told through Chris’ point of view, the film builds an
uneasy mood by planting seeds as it examines the issues of trust and traumatic memories
which payoff later in a harrowing climax. Other genres come into play (beyond its
obvious subtext on race relations); is it satire or horror or both? There
is a big Stepford Wives vibe with a nod
to Rosemary’s Baby (two of Peele’s
influences). In addition to the disturbing
imagery and musical cues, there is effective use of eerie sound effects.
Well
directed and brilliantly shot, it’s a remarkable film that scares and surprises
with its diabolical plot. By taking
expectations and flipping them in unexpected ways, it heralds the skills and
promise of a first time director with greater things to come.
**** of
**** stars
No comments:
Post a Comment