Get Out

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, Lakeith Stanfield, Stephen Root, LilRel Howery
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery
2017

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) is nervous to meet the parents of his white girlfriend (Allison Williams). What starts off as an awkward introduction soon takes on surprisingly sinister currents.

Review:

Tim: I have to give Jordan Peele a ton of credit- he was able to create a film that is simultaneously an exceptionally entertaining horror movie, while also being a scathing commentary on racism in the United States. I'm kind of laughing to myself, because that is so hard to do. To hear that idea before knowing how effective Get Out is, I would have thought it nearly impossible to pull off. Peele has quietly been building a heck of career in Hollywood, but this, his directorial debut, puts him on the map. He also wrote this film- after the effectiveness of this one movie, Peele is absolutely someone I want to see direct more films.

The brilliance of this movie is how seamlessly Peele weaves the racism aspect into the actual horror aspect. This isn't just an allegory, but race plays a visible, vital role in the horror we see on screen. I love that he doesn't try to hide it- it's right there, for everyone to see. He takes something most everyone has been through- meeting your significant other's family (which is stressful enough) and mines great intensity and horrors out of it. The film is wisely a slow boil- it certainly takes time for everything to be revealed. Expertly, though, it never feels like the movie spins its wheels. We're continually fed enough pieces of the puzzle so that even though we have no idea what's going on, it's never frustrating. It feels like we're moving forward. That sense of momentum is essential to holding our attention throughout the film.

Daniel Kaluuya was really, really good in the lead role. I enjoyed his performance. It was authentic and he came across as sympathetic, even before the real craziness starts. Allison Williams was really good, too. She had a challenging role and she played all the various aspects of her character in a quite believable way. It was a very strong performance. I love Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford- they were both perfectly cast and added such strong supporting roles. LilRey Howery added the perfect amount of comedic relief with his performance. It was also fun to see Lakeith Stanfield and Stephen Root. The cast might not have huge names, but they all worked well here.

As mentioned, I loved the combination of legitimate horror thrills, plus the continuous commentary on race. It's fascinating to examine this film for its commentary on how white culture typically interacts with black culture. Peele has done a terrific job of summarizing the inequality and the rigged system that minorities face in this country. Now, I will say that the horror aspects of the film eventually come across as a little cliched and farfetched. The events work much better in the context of racial commentary, they seem a little blase from a horror film standpoint.

Still, there isn't quite anything like Get Out. It's a memorable, effective movie from a first time director. I suspect Peele learned a great deal his first time behind the camera and I sincerely look forward to what he does next.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



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