Just because you are invited doesn't mean you're welcome.
Get Out is a 2017 horror film directed by Jordan Peele, written by Jordan Peele, produced by Blumhouse Productions, QC Entertainment, and Monkeypaw Productions, and distributed by Universal Pictures. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams. It was nominated for and won Best Original Screenplay. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.
"Get out! Get out of here!" -Andre Hayworth
Plot
Chris Washington and Rose Armitage have been dating for five months, and they decide that it is time for Chris to meet Rose's parents. At first glance, the Armitages seem nice enough, but make Chris uncomfortable with feeble racial comments. However, after strange things begin happening, Chris uncovers the horrifying truth of his girlfriend's family.
Positive Aspects
The biggest thing here is the directing. Jordan Peele crafts this movie in an absolutely genius way. There isn't a ton of music, which makes his jump scares very surprising when they happen. The close-up shots of certain people of objects, such as Georgina's face when she tells Chris why she unplugged his phone or the tea cup that Missy taps with her spoon. Everything that is set up before the climax has some meaning and/or payoff in the end. There is some very cool symbolism when Chris is in the Artmitages' basement and he is staring at a deer head, which is a callback to Dean talking about getting rid of deer and Chris and Rose hitting a deer with their car in the beginning.
I think that this has one of the spookiest scenes I have ever seen. The scene where Andre tells Chris to get out is one of the best directed and haunting scenes I have ever scene. The shots of Lakeith Stanfield's face as he morphs back into Andre Hayworth are...breathtaking. The scene pays off as Andre yells "Get out!" to Chris. It is truly thrilling and mysterious. At first watch, it seems that Andre/Logan is just unstable, but when you look back at the movie after you've finished it, you realize that the end of the film changed that scene.
I think that the acting and writing are the thing that makes this movie good. Daniel Kaluuya got nominated for Best Actor, and rightfully so. I think that the psychology session between Chris and Missy is some of the best acting of the last twenty years. Daniel Kaluuya's face, tears, and the way that he tells Missy what he did when his mom got hit with a car are all breathtaking.
I think that the movie also feels real. The characters all feel like they could be real people, even though they are all obviously fictional. That is some master writing. Even the people who are off feel like you could encounter them in real life. Chris is a fantastic protagonist that obviously feels uncomfortable in a weird setting that isn't right. Rose feels like the loving girlfriend for most of the film, and she shows embarrassment and sympathy for Chris when her family is being weird about Chris being black. Dean and Missy feel like they are absolutely real parents that care about their daughter, who is dating a black man. They are internally racist, and they show it.
Besides Chris, Rod was my favorite character. For a very dark, serious, and disturbing movie, Rod is absolutely hilarious. His last couple of lines near the end of the film are some of the funniest in any horror movie. He provides some very needed comic relief, and Lil Rel Howery is perfect as the TSA agent.
I think that the plot is very good. It has a mysterious and sinister vibe that resonates really well with the audience. The twists and turns work really well and that is partly because the plot really builds up to an explosive climax. The tone is consistent throughout, which helps to advance the plot.
Finally, the use of music in the film is scary. The music itself is inherently creepy, but it is only used during suspenseful scenes, making the movie very uncomfortable sometimes. But only uncomfortable in a good way that only works in a well-made horror movie.
Negative Aspects
The biggest thing is the pace. The first three-quarters of the movie are very slow-paced and it takes a while to set up the climax. There are a couple scenes that are gamechangers and stuff actually happens, but 80% of the movie is setup, which can be boring at certain points.
I think that the movie has a really good cast...with the exception of Caleb Landry Jones as Jeremy Armitage. He spends the entire movie acting drunk, which, some of the time, he is. It's a weird performance that seems like it was made to be messed up and creepy, but it doesn't feel like it fits into the movie. I think that the dinner scene is the only good scene of Jeremy, and the rest all feel like they are wrong.
Final Score
This a very well-made, disturbing and sometimes funny look into the problems of racism that we still have today. Despite an odd performance and a slow pace, Get Out succeeds in stunning performances by the main cast, great directing and characters, and an amazing plot.
I will give it a Sweet rating. Age range is 15+.
SWEET N' SOUR SCALE
Sweet (Great)
Savory (Good)
Sour (Bad)
Moldy (Terrible)
"Get Out"
Fun Factor: 7.5/10
Acting: 9.5/10
Characters: 9/10
Story: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
WHERE TO WATCH
Amazon Prime Video: Available for rent
Apple TV+: Available for rent
Directed by Jordan Peele
Released on February 24, 2017
Rated R for strong bloody violence, scary images, disturbing themes and behavior, language, minor sexual content, thematic elements
1 hour and 44 minutes
Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington
Allison Williams as Rose Armitage
Catherine Keener as Missy Armitage
Bradley Whitford as Dean Armitage
Caleb Landry Jones as Jeremy Armitage
Betty Gabriel as Georgina
Marcus Henderson as Walter
Lil Rey Howery as Rod Williams
LaKeith Stanfield as Andre Logan King
Stephen Root as Jim Hudson
Comments