Through The Rear Window: Movie Review … Get Out

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Movie Review … Get Out

Horror and satire movies set in suburbia are nothing new. ‘The Stepford Wives’ and ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ have used enclosed locales to effective use. The setting is ripe for both genres as occasionally being in such a community can be a horror unto itself. Add a dash of social commentary on racism and you have ‘Get Out’. An intriguing blend of laughs and scares, it pushes the right buttons in crafting a refreshing take on suburban hell.

A young black man, Chris (Daniel Kalyuuya), goes to meet the parents of his white girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams). Initially enjoying the meeting and surrounds of the estate in which they live, Chris slowly feels something is amiss. Learning that several black residents have gone missing, Chris’s sense of foreboding increases. It reaches fever pitch when a black man from the estate tells him to get out. Leaving quickly becomes a hassle with his departure halted by increasingly sinister events.

Written and directed by Jordan Peele, ‘Get Out’ works on many levels. Both those who want thrills and others wanting weight behind them will get them. Peele’s creativity in mixing these elements is evident as he crafts something fresh out of standard horror architypes. The twists keep coming until the end with Chris navigating his way through a cavalcade of terror. Kalyuuya gives a solid performance full of presence and growing bemusement at what he encounters. His co-stars perfectly pitch their roles to match the film’s tone.

Although scares are effectively handled, working better is the general social observations. You feel a genuine sense of Chris’ daily life from the assumptions residents make of him based on skin colour to non-verbal actions. Making ‘Get Out’ very relatable and authentic is seeing how he deals with the casual racism he encounters - something seen in everyday life. The music and cinematography perfectly create a foreboding atmosphere with the script’s light touch ensuring the messages aren’t lost amongst creepy happenings.

‘Get Out’ is an imaginative humorous thriller with a strong central motif. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing a new talent such as Jordan Peele enter the scene. One hopes his next movie is just as intriguing and captivating as this nifty outing.