My goodness! This is like a Black man’s worst
nightmare, to be abducted by white people only to be forced into slavery. Jordan
Peele (Key & Peele, Keanu) made a bold move when he decided to
write and direct this horror laced mysterious thriller. Not only does it fit
that mold, but the inclusion of comedy was a hard task that he pulled off.
Initially shocked that he would take on such material given his background
delving in comedy, Peele delivered a thought provoking film that not only exceeds
your expectations, but influences how you think about issues that’s been
lurking around for years. There’s a large amount of racial issues that this
film addresses, and it’s done so in a way that will be a wakeup call to some,
as well as a soft comedy that will be discussed by many, all in the name of fun.
What should be noted early on, is that this film
deals with race. So if that bothers you (it shouldn’t), this may not be for
you. When the trailers first dropped, it’s safe to say that most of Black
America thought to themselves, “Oh snap, a horror movie with a Black Man in the
lead, and it looks like he’s going to actually demonstrate how we would behave
in a horror movie.” This humor has been around the African-American community
since before I could remember. Black people are always joking around about how
we’re misrepresented in horror flicks, or if we were in great peril running for
our lives, how we would act or survive. That’s the strongest element of this
film by far, and is the sole reason certain groups of people will turn out. It
pays off, as the script was tighter than an extra small latex glove, speaking
volumes for every Black person I know.
What’s also appreciated is the slow burn the film
has while still teasing you with tidbits for what’s to come. Chris Washington (Daniel
Kuulya) is just trying to live a normal life, and is in strong like with
his girlfriend Rose Armitage (Allison Williams). Everything seems as
normal as it should, and when it’s time to go meet the parents, he knows just
because of the color of his skin there may be an issue. You see, Daniel Kaluuya
(Kick Ass 2, Sicario) is a dark-skinned brother and his girlfriend is
pale white. The visual representation displaying the distance there can be, and
lack of understanding between two different cultures, was wonderful. Yet the
beauty behind two opposing races coming together in the name of love has its
own spectacle to marvel at as well. Regardless of who you are, you can look at
these two as a blessing or a curse, and knocking these two birds out with one
stone created great appeal while watching. Though not everyone thinks the same.
There’s multiple types of racism, and this film takes on a few that’s apparent
in the world today; some being conscious of their views, while others are still
unconscious of their views (or so they say). There are those with ridiculous,
hateful malicious intent, still thinking that Black people are beings to be
controlled, and will stop at no end to achieve that reality. Many of these
elements are in one scene, back to back to back like a three piece combo from
the world’s strongest. And as all this is going on, its slowly preparing you
for the inevitable end when the crap is closing in on the fan.
It’s great to get to know Chris too while all the
darkness is brewing in the background. He’s a respectable young man, and has a
clever sense of humor just like any other male in his demographic. He reacted
as any person would given the situation, and is a person that doesn’t like to
waste time. The back and forth with his best friend Rod (LilRel Howery)
made you laugh out loud as a bonus, even when it wasn’t necessary. It got a
little silly a time or two, but didn’t ruin the tone. You’re already at the
edge of your seat, and every once in a while, a joke comes at the right time to
lighten the mood in the air. It doesn’t seem like an easy task to juggle
comedy, mystery, and thrills together, but Peele was able to do so seamlessly.
What makes any form of entertainment worth your
while, is when all parties involved (even with opposing sides) are giving it their
all to succeed in their mission. The evil slave masters had their thought-out
plan, while Chris had to think on his feet, using every thread and needle to
his advantage. The theater was screaming at the movie screen in joy as Chris
did what he had to do to survive. With it being likely that he would succeed,
you still had no idea what the outcome would be even with the answer possibly
being around the corner. It was a breath of fresh air to have a lead character
that uses his brain in a horror film, when for years it felt like the victims
would run towards their attacker. Oh, but not Chris though.
I felt such a connection to his character. It was
easy to relate to his state of being as he tried to bond with others that
looked like him, but knew there was something wrong. The entire cast did a
phenomenal job, even with some of their roles not feeling important until the
very end. Most people like surprises, and when you think they’re all used up,
another one jumps out from behind the bush. The creepiest part of the film
dealt with the hypnosis. Not knowing how in depth this philosophy goes, I’m
intrigued to learn more about the subject matter. With a soundtrack titled ‘Redbone’
produced by Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) that tied in with
the hypnotic melodies of mind control, it is sure to make your skin crawl. As
you are watching, you feel as if you may be going into a deep sleep that you
won’t wake up from.
It’s not too often a film can live up to its
promise, yet here’s another that accomplished that. Having control over the
writing and directing paid off, as Peele will open more doors for himself and
others to provide original pieces of art. Being not too expensive with the
production budget, Blumhouse Pictures (Split, The Belko Experiment)
may have finally found their niche. Producing low budget films for a profit
could be lucrative, but the sacrifice of quality was always apparent. Looking at
a few of their past films, and what’s soon to come, this may not be an issue
much longer; as I look forward to everything they will bank roll. Unless you
have an army of friends waiting by the phone, I don’t ever recommend going to the
Armitage’s house. Though if you do, and it seems a little weird, please, I beg
of you, GET OUT!
9.5/10
Read more reviews by Brandon Keith Avery at Just My Opinion.net.
