Following his success with the blockbuster horror film, Get Out, Jordan Peele impresses again with his chilling 2019 release, Us.
It’s safe to say that Peele’s one hell of a versatile artist – taking his talent from comedy as the other half of Key and Peele, portraying a variety of weird and wacky personalities; to writing, directing, and producing some of the best horror films in this generation.
And yes, while he’s only made two (so far), they’ve already made their mark on the genre as films to be remembered for years to come.
While not quite as excellent as his masterful 2017 debut, Us still manages to shine (and scare) in its own right. An eerie tone is immediately set as we’re treated to a title sequence that talks of long forgotten “hidden tunnels” throughout the U.S., before shifting to scenes of a 1986 Santa Cruz amusement park by the beachside. A family is innocently enjoying their night out, while their daughter, Adelaide, wanders off to a secluded section of the park. Eventually, she stumbles across a typical house of mirrors. Across the entrance is an ever-foreboding sign that coaxes, “find yourself”.
And find herself she does. As she anxiously shuffles her way through the dark halls, whistling to calm her nerves, she bumps into another girl. Her back is turned, but she’s whistling the same tune. A girl her exact same height, wearing her exact same clothes, and sporting her exact same hair. A girl who looks exactly like her.
The film then cuts to the present day, and we see Adelaide as a now grown woman, driving to very same beach with her husband and children.
As seen in the trailer, everything’s all fun and games until Adelaide’s family encounters four enigmatic figures on their driveway that very night. A mysterious family of four… that looks exactly like them.
If this concept exudes somewhat of a Twilight Zone vibe, the movie falls well within that camp. It seems like Peele has a knack for these kinds of stories, and he executes them with just the right blend of mystery, social commentary, and even humour.
To start with, the cast was brilliant. Lupita Nyong’o, who plays the highly-strung Adelaide, undoubtedly shines above the rest, playing both a nerve-stricken mother and a genuinely terrifying doppleganger. The fact that each actor plays two characters – one being their “ordinary” self, and the other a clone – is where this cast’s talents impress most; though Nyong’o’s delivers a stand-out performance with her double personalities, managing to strike both sympathy and utter fear among viewers.
Her idiosyncrasies as Adelaide’s clone were also nothing short of sinister, as she incorporates quick, sudden motions that leave the audience uncertain of her next move.
While Nyong’o’s acting is highly deserving of praise, this isn’t to say the supporting actors weren’t excellent in their own right. Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker were enjoyable to watch, playing a typical, endlessly bickering couple living up their upper-class American dream. Winston Duke was entertaining as the playful Gabe, Adelaide’s husband – who served as the film’s prime comic relief.
Though while the movie delivers in Peele’s trademark comic moments, a trivial gripe I had with the film was how it played some of these jokes at the expense of its horror.
These moments are scarce, though jarring – minimising the effect of some of the film’s otherwise frightening events. Here, for me, is where it falters next to its predecessor; Get Out expertly weaved in its humour in moments that never shattered its overall consistent tone of dread and terror. It knew what it wanted to be as a movie experience, but I’m not sure I can say the same for Us.
Peele may have also benefited from playing up its horror aspects a tad more; the film is quick to indulge in typical cat-and-mouse action scenes, rather than pursuing the subtle disturbances that truly make a horror film horrific (the simple image of ominous figures in your driveway, for example, or the smile of a soulless face that looks exactly like your own).
Still, Us’ strength lies in its powerful performances and a unique story that’ll stir discussion well after the credits roll. One of the greatest about this film is its rewatchability. Viewers will have a fun time picking up new details and stringing together new theories on their second, or even third, watch.
And this is because Peele lays it on thick with all the fine storytelling details – from social themes on the American class system, to biblical references, to callbacks towards cinematic classics. Watch this film if you haven’t yet, as much of the fun involves participating in fan discussion, unpacking the many narrative elements, Easter eggs, and theories on the film’s underlying message.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a complete review without mentioning Michael Abels’ fantastically eerie score. Much of the movie’s suspenseful atmosphere can be credited to its backing tracks of creepy Latin chants and the uneasiness of a jittery string ensemble. If the actions on screen don’t get you, the music surely will, keeping those hairs raised from one tense scene to the next.
For fans of Get Out looking to experience another thought-provoking horror piece, Us delivers well. The story may not be as expertly crafted as the former (Jordan Peele has set the bar quite high for himself, after all), but there’s still plenty to admire, and plenty more to unpack. With a gripping narrative and riveting performances, horror buffs and moviegoers alike will have plenty to rave about.
(All photos courtesy of Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions.)