Director(s): Jordan Peele (Us).
Writer(s): Jordan Peele.
Certificate: 18.
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Main Cast: Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, Sicario) as Chris Washington, Allison Williams (College Musical, The Perfection) as Rose Armitage, Catherine Keener (Capote, Being John Malkovich) as Missy Armitage and Bradley Whitford (The Cabin In The Woods, Saving Mr. Banks) as Dean Armitage.
Distributor: Universal Pictures.
Budget/Box Office: 4.5 million / 255.4 million.
Major Award(s): Nominated for 4 Academy Awards - Won 1 for Best Original Screenplay. Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards.
Precise, nuanced and entertaining, Get Out deserves a spot not only as one of the best movies of the decades, but also as one of the most influential ones. Drawing on The Stepford Wives (1975) and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (1967), respectively for genre and themes, Jordan Peele creates his own style, while masterfully injecting a new energy in the horror genre.
Peele demonstrates his abilities not only in crafting a thoughtful story, but also in the direction given to his actors. Allison Williams delivers a layered performance, requiring an instant rewatch to be appropriately dissected. Behind every smile, every look, Williams skillfully hides a sinister disposition, subtly chilling the viewer. As the protagonist, Daniel Kaluuya is fantastic in this role. The first hypnosis scene stands out in particular: his raw performance, combined with Peele’s evocative imagery, allows the viewer a rare glimpse into the marginalization of black people in America.
Adding to the depth of this movie is the commendable attention to details, which can only be fully appreciated after several revisitations. In fact, no scene is wasted, no word misplaced: every element of this social horror is crafted with intention and intelligence.
Peele, being a great comedian in addition to a skilled writer, knows when to hold back, playing with the audience’s expectations to increase tension: the ending particularly demonstrates this. With its original message and heartfelt direction, Get Out is sure to inspire an entire generation of filmmakers.