Now that Jordan Peele, one-half of Comedy Central duo “Key and Peele,” has made his directing debut, it’s time to talk about his movie “Get Out” and why it’s already the must-see blockbuster of the year.
The creepy thriller makes a statement on racism and interracial relationships as African American protagonist Chris, portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya, accompanies his white girlfriend Rose, played by Allison Williams, to a weekend at her parents’ house. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times describes “Get Out” as “an exhilaratingly smart and scary freakout about a black man in a white nightmare.”
The nightmare begins as Chris notices the bizarre behavior of the maid and the groundskeeper along with Rose’s overly welcoming parents. When an annual hometown party brings neighbors to the house, their increasingly disturbing questions and comments to Chris allude to a horrific weekend ahead.
But don’t worry, Peele doesn’t neglect his comedic forte. A dash of humor balances out the eerie vibe of the film, which leaves us with a product that has never been seen before.
With nearly each piece of the script a satire connecting to the line before it, the film ties together in such a way that it will keep you on the edge of your seat while anticipating and admiring its clever plot-twists.
Earning $30.5 million on opening weekend and an unprecedented 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, there’s no doubt “Get Out” will be nominated for a multitude of awards this year.
Film critic Josh Rottenberg states in a review that “defying the laws of box office gravity that typically bring horror films crashing to earth shortly after their debuts, ‘Get Out’ has grossed more than $136 million domestically to date— a staggering return for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions on a movie that cost just $4.5 million to produce.”
Not only does each actor deliver brilliant performances, the film is also tastefully made and speaks to a large audience. Peele says in an interview in the Los Angeles Times, “I think people are scared to talk about race and when we suppress things—ideas, thoughts, feelings, fears—they need to get out in some way. I think ‘Get Out’ is a film that satisfies the need to think about, discuss and deal with race but it does it in a way that’s more comfortable because it’s fun.”
Released on DVD on May 23, “Get Out” is now available for purchase everywhere, and it’s worth every minute. This movie might not be for everyone, but if you can sacrifice a good night’s sleep, Valley knows you’ll love it just as much as we do.
