Get Out
4 out of 5
Jordan Peele has proven he can make an audience laugh, but does he have what it takes to make them jump with fear and suspense as well? Peele, known as one part of the Comedy Central show, “Key & Peele,” ventures out into the suspense / horror genre in his directorial debut with “Get Out.” His only other “behind the camera” movie credit came as a writer with 2016’s “Keanu,” in which he also starred. That movie was a comedy about two guys attempting to retrieve a stolen kitten from a street gang. Again — comedy — a genre he’s widely known for and what his audience has come to expect from him. Most people then were surprised when the trailer for “Get Out” was released to see his name attached to a project that didn’t appear to be a comedy. I’m sure many thought it had to be a joke, or some sort of spoof movie. Well, rest assured it’s not. In fact, it’s a very well-produced and thought out thriller that does what it’s supposed to do all the way through.
Also relatively new to the big screen is the film’s star, Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Chris Washington, an African-American man dating a white girl — heading out for a weekend at her parents’ house. The girlfriend, Rose Armitage (played by Allison Williams), can’t wait to introduce him to her parents — but he’s nervous and finds out the day they’re leaving that she has never mentioned to them that he is black. She assures him that it’ll all be fine, and that the worst thing he’ll have to put up with is her “lame dad” who will be quick to share with Chris that he would have voted for Obama a third time if he could have. After sharing a laugh, and hitting the road, the couple arrive at the Armitage household, where it quickly becomes apparent that Allison’s dad, Dean (Bradley Whitford) is indeed awkward and, as promised, let’s Chris know he would’ve voted for Obama a third time. Of course, Jordan Peele’s humor is on display in the movie throughout with funny scenes and lines — but perhaps the biggest scene stealer is Lil Rey Howery — who plays Rod Williams, Chris’ best friend. His wild conspiracy theories and pursuit of his buddy are well timed to break up the tension at just the right moments, and his delusions of grandeur surrounding his job as a TSA agent are perhaps some of the movies’ best moments.
Even with the funny moments in the film, the slow build of suspense is formidable, as Chris meets the “help” at the Armitage household in the ground and housekeepers. Working his way through the awkwardness, Chris thinks that he should be able to relate to them much easier, and tries to strike up conversations, only to receive vapid stares and robotic answers in return. He brings it up to Rose and his friend, who have very different thoughts (again a scene Howery steals). Meanwhile, Rose’s mother, Missy Armitage (Catherine Keener) is a therapist, and after having to admit he smokes cigarettes, Chris is offered a hypnosis session that is guaranteed to cure him of the habit. He politely declines, but late at night after sneaking out to have a quick smoke, he is unwittingly hypnotized by Mrs. Armitage, and finds that the next morning he no longer wants to smoke along with several other strange feelings. Again, his girlfriend brushes it off, and his buddy — though serious — hilariously tells him to watch out.
Later in the weekend, the family has a soirée with several of their friends, where again, something is amiss. Another African-American man about Chris’ age is there, but like the ground and housekeepers — he is weird and not in a good way. After having some strange conversations that center on race with aging white people, and watching the other young black man suffer a “seizure” Chris just wants to leave. Rose agrees that they will do so later on in the evening, and that she will make up a lie for them to go home. From here things begin to fall apart, and everything that was so off to Chris begins to fall in place as it becomes apparent his life is in danger.
This movie is just flat out good. The story is strong, the acting is very good (especially from Kuluuya and Howery). Willams’ character, Rose, is off putting at first with her incessant cursing and need to use the “F” word, but she pulls it together as the movie goes along, and the Armitage’s along with the rest of their “family” truly turn in good performances. Again, when I saw this movie advertised I thought it had to be some sort of spoof, or comedy in disguise, as that’s all I know of Jordan Peele. However, the film is a really good thriller that will make you feel awkward, tense, cause you to laugh out loud and then fall right back into a state of suspense. For Peele’s first effort in directing, especially in this genre, he plays the crowd perfect with good pacing, direction and storytelling. The way it all comes together, and the theme of the movie is completely original. There are things you see coming, just from seeing the trailer, but once the movie gets going it grabs a hold of you and won’t let go. Even at the end — you want more. And though the movie might at first appear to be something that would give you reason to think you’re going to be pounded with political messages and themes — it doesn’t. All of that is just a way to pull you in, and once the story unfolds — you’ll appreciate the way Peele creatively got you there. “Get Out” is simply what you go to the movies for.
