Written by: Kevin Berge
Aren't the cutest little family? (Image Courtesy of: radio.com)
Quick Take: Us has the vision and intelligence of a master filmmaker with the thrills of a quality horror experience. Its deeper themes are vexing and worth exploring far beyond the course of the film. Even though it goes a bit too far to explain its complexities, the movie is nonetheless completely engrossing.
***This review will not contain spoilers for Us beyond the basic set up of the film though it is a movie better for knowing as little as possible going in. If you like to go into the movie with no idea what the film is about, do not read past this point until you have. Those who already understand the set up can read ahead without fear.***
After just two films, Jordan Peele has clearly established himself as one of the best filmmakers out there. He has a unique focus that makes his films stand out, and he especially brings an intellectual edge to the underexplored horror genre.
While Get Out's final act still feels like it misses the mark for an otherwise wholly ingenious movie, I remember details vividly of the film and come back again and again to the ideas it highlights. Us is not quite the psychological marvel of Peele's first work, but it feels more cohesive from start to finish.
The Wilson family return to Adelaide's (Lupita Nyong'o) home for a summer vacation, which seems like a fun simple adventure at first. Gabe (Winston Duke), Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and Jacon (Evan Alex) are not prepared when late the first night their doppelgangers appear, ready to kill them.
This movie is all about the identity and the fear that comes with not being certain of one's one self. These characters are faced with a threat that is strange and frightening because it is almost too familiar. These doppelgangers looks like them, act like them, and seems poised to replace them.
It makes for a frightening set up that also leaves significant room for thought as it is not clear for much of the film why anything is happening as it is or the extent of the threat. It makes for a vibrant and vicious experience that more than lives up to its horror label.
Unsurprisingly, it is also a sometimes genuinely funny film though never at the expense of the thrills. Peele has the ability as a writer to sprinkle in honesty humor that feels earned and makes for great moments in an otherwise overbearingly dark experience.
After just two films, Jordan Peele has clearly established himself as one of the best filmmakers out there. He has a unique focus that makes his films stand out, and he especially brings an intellectual edge to the underexplored horror genre.
While Get Out's final act still feels like it misses the mark for an otherwise wholly ingenious movie, I remember details vividly of the film and come back again and again to the ideas it highlights. Us is not quite the psychological marvel of Peele's first work, but it feels more cohesive from start to finish.
The Wilson family return to Adelaide's (Lupita Nyong'o) home for a summer vacation, which seems like a fun simple adventure at first. Gabe (Winston Duke), Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and Jacon (Evan Alex) are not prepared when late the first night their doppelgangers appear, ready to kill them.
This movie is all about the identity and the fear that comes with not being certain of one's one self. These characters are faced with a threat that is strange and frightening because it is almost too familiar. These doppelgangers looks like them, act like them, and seems poised to replace them.
It makes for a frightening set up that also leaves significant room for thought as it is not clear for much of the film why anything is happening as it is or the extent of the threat. It makes for a vibrant and vicious experience that more than lives up to its horror label.
Unsurprisingly, it is also a sometimes genuinely funny film though never at the expense of the thrills. Peele has the ability as a writer to sprinkle in honesty humor that feels earned and makes for great moments in an otherwise overbearingly dark experience.
Lupita Nyong'o pulls off the performance of her career, and she will likely get no recognition for it because horror. (Image Courtesy of: philly.com)
More than anything when watching Us, I was repeatedly impressed by the film's direction and cinematography. This experience moves with impressive ease and is loaded with gorgeous and disturbing shots that are a credit to Peele and cinematographer Mike Gioulakis (It Follows).
The acting is also top notch though no one could hope to match up to the work of Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) who plays two fascinating roles that feel at once both completely different and disturbingly similar. This is a four-actor showcase with Winston Duke (Black Panther) and the two child actors also driving the film in dual roles.
While this film is breathtaking and action-packed, its subtleties may be lost on many in attendance. It is driven by twists and turns that underlying deeper themes that may be ignored as they are not always heavily explained.
In fact, the main fault I see from this film is when it does dive too deep into explaining its world and set up. The movie has such an air of mystery and sets up so many fascinating conversations that even explaining one of those mysteries feels a bit unnecessary if not an outright mistake.
This movie feels like it has set the bar for 2019. While it came out early enough that some will certainly be able to match up if not exceed that mark, Us is the type of experience that should not be forgotten. It has even made me more fascinated about the idea of revisiting Get Out again.
Horror has been growing into its own fascinating genre in recent years thanks to the work of an impressive collection of great filmmakers. Peele may be the pinnacle of that work right now, churning out fantastic work with deeper meanings that will be talked about for years to come.
The acting is also top notch though no one could hope to match up to the work of Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) who plays two fascinating roles that feel at once both completely different and disturbingly similar. This is a four-actor showcase with Winston Duke (Black Panther) and the two child actors also driving the film in dual roles.
While this film is breathtaking and action-packed, its subtleties may be lost on many in attendance. It is driven by twists and turns that underlying deeper themes that may be ignored as they are not always heavily explained.
In fact, the main fault I see from this film is when it does dive too deep into explaining its world and set up. The movie has such an air of mystery and sets up so many fascinating conversations that even explaining one of those mysteries feels a bit unnecessary if not an outright mistake.
This movie feels like it has set the bar for 2019. While it came out early enough that some will certainly be able to match up if not exceed that mark, Us is the type of experience that should not be forgotten. It has even made me more fascinated about the idea of revisiting Get Out again.
Horror has been growing into its own fascinating genre in recent years thanks to the work of an impressive collection of great filmmakers. Peele may be the pinnacle of that work right now, churning out fantastic work with deeper meanings that will be talked about for years to come.
