Get Out

Get Out

Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener

Directed by Jordan Peele

The Story:
Interracial couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) are about to visit her parents for the first time, and Chris is understandably worried, since they don't know he's African American.  Still, he loves Rose and he'll have to meet them eventually, so they arrive and meet Dean (Bradley Whitford) and Missy (Catherine Keener), who both come off way too accepting.  Dean talks about how he would've voted for Obama for a third term, and Missy tells Chris that she can use hypnosis to cure his smoking habit.  Soon Chris discovers the danger he's in...or is it just inside his head?

The Synopsis:
Jordan Peele is best known for half of the comedic duo Key and Peele, but there's more to this man than just comedy.  He took a chance and wrote and directed a wholly original idea (even if it takes parts from other famous works) and creates a tense, exciting thriller that keeps you guessing until the end, delivered with impeccable timing, comedic moments and stellar performances that you just don't see in horror anymore.

The movie tackles a topic facing many interracial couples even to this day: struggling with racial stereotypes and wanting to be accepted despite their color.  Chris is a good guy, someone who's trusting, loyal and friendly, but is wary because he's meeting Rose's white family for the first time - a family who grew up during the tense racial tensions and may harbor racist thoughts and ideas, despite Rose's comforting words ("my dad would've voted for Obama for a third term if he could").  He's a genuine guy who you really root for, someone you want to make it out alive.  That's another thing you don't find in many horror films, in fact you often find yourself rooting for the bad guy ("The Bye Bye Man" and "Rings" recently come to mind) because there's no good redeeming qualities about the protagonists.  This is due to a solid script, and also the equally solid acting of relative newcomer Daniel Kaluuya, who emotes expressions through his eyes alone that make you feel for him.  Equally great is his girlfriend Rose, played by Allison Williams in her first feature film role (she's more well-known for her role in the television series "Girls").  She is your loving, caring girlfriend that you wish you had, someone who is understanding and who looks out for her man.

When he arrives, you already feel uncomfortable with Rose's parents and how they really try almost too hard to be the perfect, understanding parents.  Once again, Peele's genius is in the writing, and expressed through two veteran actors: Bradley Whitford, who is more known for his comedic roles, takes on the patriarch of the family in a way that's equally uncomfortable and unnerving, and you never know exactly what his ulterior motives are.  Two-time Oscar nominee Catherine Keener also kills it as Missy, who is less cartoonish than her husband, but is still very mysterious and haunting, as she's a professional hypnotist and you can never tell if she's trying to pull a fast one on you.

The first real moment Chris can tell something is off is when he meets the caretaker and maid, Walter and Georgina, who act like they're in a mixture movie of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "The Stepford Wives," and both Marcus Henderson and Betty Gabriel give haunting performances, especially Gabriel's Georgina, who is just downright nutty.  The mystery intensifies as Chris partakes in a special party where all the older, white partygoers go on about Chris's physical abilities and talents.  Chris begins to unravel the mystery, but strongly relies on his TWA buddy Walter (LilRel Howery) to help connect the pieces.  Howery also serves as the comedic fodder for the film - believing the older white people are kidnapping black men to be their sex slaves - but does so in a way that's also helpful and not your typical "comedic best friend" you see in movies who only bumble around and offer little to no help to the protagonist. 

When the final act begins, the clues come together and all of a sudden we're sent into the decent of the roller coaster ride, where the insanity is elevated and the threats become all too real, as Chris finds himself in a fight for his own life.  It moves from zero to a hundred in a matter of moments, and you're left on the edge of your seat in excitement as you truly have a character to really root for.  This is the true genius of Jordan Peele - more than just a comedian, but a very intellectual writer and director as well who should really branch out more and take bigger risks like he did with "Get Out."

The Summary:
There are very few good horror movies out there, and even fewer that are original and current.  "Get Out" is one of those very rare horror films that hits on all cylinders and leaves you wanting to see more films like this.

The Score: A+