*This is a spoiler-free review*
One of my favorite things in life is when someone does something you least expect them to do. And I should clarify, that I mean this in terms of positive things only. One time, my dentist slapped an eight-year-old child. It was this big local news story and he lost his license for a period of time and all that. Listen, I still go to him now. He’s never laid a finger on me. I never expected him to do that and obviously it wasn’t one of my favorite things.
The real act of doing something "unexpected" that I love is one in which a person does something spectacular that you would never have guessed they would. Sort of like what Jordan Peele has done for the horror genre. The funny-man is most known for his time on "MadTV," his bit roles in films like “Wanderlust,” and his Comedy Central sketch comedy show, “Key and Peele.” Nowadays, he’s become known as one of the most promising names in horror, almost solely due to his Oscar-nominated, culturally significant film, “Get Out.” That movie was able to find immense box office success, glowing critical reviews, and award show acclaim – and it was a horror movie. That’s nearly unheard of. When you pair that with its tackling of sensitive, but timely issues and its ability to scare you, you wind up with a cultural phenomenon that people will talk about for years to come.
The big question here was whether or not Peele would fall victim to the “sophomore slump,” as some like to call it. His mark on horror was felt from his very first film, but could he manage to keep that going? This weekend, Peele released his next film entitled, “Us.” Did it live up to the hype? Did it solidify Peele’s place as the next big thing in horror? Let’s unpack that.
“Us” stars Lupita Nyong’o, in perhaps her most memorable role yet, as Adelaide, a caring mother with a troubled past who has worked her entire life to move on from a disturbing childhood memory. (I went into this film knowing as little as humanly possible, so I’ll try to be brief in my synopsis here so you can hopefully have the same experience.) A family vacation back to her old home and the prospect of a day trip back to the beach and boardwalk that haunted her childhood prove to be difficult for Adelaide, who cannot help but shake the feeling that danger is near and fast approaching. To delve anymore into the plot or what happens would be a huge disservice to the viewer. If you’ve watched the trailer, you have already seen far, far too much.
With “Us,” Peele opts for a more traditional horror approach than “Get Out” which proves to be a welcome change. It was clear that Peele could handle moments of tension and suspense, but how would he do with much more in-your-face type scares? Simply put, he exceeds those expectations. Through clever camera placement and beautiful cinematography, the film is not only visually pleasing and technically impressive, it’s genuinely spine tingling.
Two of the most important things for a horror film are lighting and the score. The lighting in this film is perfect and helps to build unremitting suspense. Villainous faces are covered in shadows with small trickles of light illuminating their features; their bulging eyes or their unwavering smiles. Outdoor house lights seep through leaves and branches to reveal the horrors that wait outside Adelaide’s childhood home. Lighting is one of the most effective elements when done properly and “Us” masters this consistently throughout its runtime.
I never doubted Peele’s ability to craft a memorable soundtrack or score, given how well he used music in “Get Out.” This is no different when it comes to “Us.” There are several very memorable moments involving the music that he chooses. Perhaps the most unforgettable is the way in which Peele utilizes Luniz’ “I Got 5 on It.” When we first hear the song, it is during a family car ride at the start of their vacation – the family enjoying the track and bonding over it, Adelaide teaching her son to snap to it in rhythm. When we hear it again, the tables have turned significantly, the terror is turned up, and the hip-hop track is now part of the score. The instrumental takes on a new feeling and is given new life – it registers as ominous and undeniably creepy. Taking it a step further, the song was given an orchestral remix that is so effectively eerie and so damn cool. Pair this song with the already killer score and a few more memorable song moments, thanks in part to Ophelia (the “Amazon Alexa” of the “Us” universe) and you’ve got yourself some remarkable scenes heightened entirely by Peele's music choices.
Something that has plagued horror films since the beginning of time is below average to downright horrendous acting. “Us” is a breath of fresh air in this department, utilizing some of the very best talent from its adult actors right down to the children. Winston Duke does a commendable job playing Gabe, the lovable but very annoying father. His acting is more than fine, but it’s the overall character that could use some adjusting. Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex, who play Adelaide and Gabe’s children, are quite good. They’re given relatively challenging roles to play throughout the course of the film and they handle it with ease. The standout here is Lupita Nyong’o. It’s no secret that she can act but she truly does carry the weight of this film on her shoulders and is challenged with playing two very different, but very complicated roles. She does so effortlessly. She plays Adelaide perfectly, striking the perfect balance between a strong heroine and a fragile, terrified woman. And when she plays her doppelgänger, Red, she manages to create and embody a sincerely scary movie villain. Someone you’d be terrified to see in the middle of the night. She’ll make your skin crawl. And you won't soon forget that voice.
“Us” is not a perfect film by any means. First of all, Scientologist Elisabeth Moss is in it. A damn shame we give her any type of work. But...anyway. Peele is a comedy man first. “Get Out” was heralded for its blend of horror and comedy. “Us” attempts the same, injecting moments of humor to alleviate some of the tension. However, it falls flat more often than not and instead of creating moments of welcome relief, it in turn creates moments of distraction. The glimpses of effective humor tend to come from happenings on screen, not so much intentional lines of joking dialogue. These lines are almost all delivered by Gabe – a character who grows a bit old and would have benefitted from being quiet for just a minute.
Additionally, the script could use some work and perhaps some tightening to make it a stronger film. When the action beings, it does not let up but the most effective moments seem to pass in a flash while others linger far too long. What you end up with is a series of cat-and-mouse, chase scenes that begin to overstay its welcome. As the film progresses, it becomes more convoluted and some may not feel satisfied with the direction that it ultimately heads and ends in. The third act strays a bit too far from what made the first two so fun to watch. At times, it feels like Peele runs with his ideas but does not know how to tie it all together in the most suitable way.
Did “Us” live up to the hype? I’ll say “yes.” Is it better than “Get Out”? I’ll say “no.” Did it solidify Peele’s place as the next big thing in horror? Again, “yes.” There were so many ways this movie could have gone wrong. Was it too rushed after his first film? Would he be able to come up with something as original and fun as "Get Out" was? Luckily, “Us” is a really well made film and lots of fun to watch. “Get Out” might be the superior film overall, but it doesn’t take away from this film and what makes it great on its own. Above all else, Peele is now two for two – coming out with very original horror films that manage to check all the boxes: technical achievement, effective scares, memorable moments, and strong acting.
There is a lot of unpack within “Us” and I think repeat viewings will be beneficial for myself, and many others, to pick up on moments that may have been missed. There is certainly a decent amount of subtext to this film, though it may not be as dense as “Get Out” was. I do believe that certain audiences will like this less due to its rather off-the-wall, crazy nature – though that is something that I appreciated about it. Peele was not afraid to go for it and follow his instincts as a writer and director, for better or worse. Overall, I will not forget “Us” anytime soon and I am already looking forward to watching it again and getting to dissect each moment. If there’s a horror film that makes you want to do that, you know that it’s a good one. I look forward to what Peele has up his sleeve next. If this film is any indication, his reboot of “The Twilight Zone” will be spectacular. His work is a breathe of fresh air for a genre that so desperately needs it. It’s like he really knows what horror fans want and are craving. He really knows “us.”
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