A review of Jordan Peele’s horror movie, Get Out
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut Get Out is truly a masterpiece. Typically, I avoid watching horror movies because I get uneasy. I never understood why people enjoyed a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust for entertainment purposes. But the 2017 Get Out has changed my mind about the genre. Maybe horror films aren’t so bad after all.
The movie follows Chris Washington as Daniel Kaluuya and Rose Armitage as Allison Williams, they have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating. Rose invites her boyfriend Chris, upstate for a weekend getaway to her parent’s house in an affluent white suburb. Chris becomes apprehensive when he finds out that Rose never told her parents that he is Black. “My dad would have voted for Obama for a third time if he could’ve. Like the love is so real,” Rose tells Chris. “I’m only telling you that ‘cause he’s definitely gonna wanna talk to you about that.” Chris receives reassurance from his girlfriend that her parents are not prejudiced.
But as the weekend progresses, a sequence of startling revelations leads him to a truth he could never have imagined. Get Out addresses today’s climate concerning race. It takes aim at white liberals’ racism and explores the subtle and insidious ways in which racism manifests itself in our modern society. What makes Get Out spine-chilling in horror is the fact it reflects an existing fear that many Black people who live in largely white society face.
It brilliantly captures the subdued trepidation that often lurks beneath, especially in response to white people’s assertions of power. The movie addresses issues that are spread throughout the Black community. The crocodile tears of white women’s claims of being victimized by Black men, the fascination with “wearing” blackness, and the weird obsession that people have with the genetic makeup of Black people when it comes to sports. Instead of avoiding these difficulties by using metaphorical symbolism, Peele chose to draw attention to them by highlighting the ugly nature of racialized power dynamics in this nation.
From beginning to end, Get Out keeps you on the edge of your seat. Jordan Peele deviates from the traditional aspects of horror and creates an opportunity for a wholly unique piece of filmmaking while minimizing the jump scares and gore. The film draws emotional truths from our densely layered social discourse, incorporating a sophisticated storyline and a cast of solid leads, and supporting actors; this movie is revolutionary.