A relentless shadow is cast by Jordan Peele and it results in a unique form of creative storytelling through bold strokes and unwavering confidence.
From the film-maker behind Get Out, comes Jordan Peele’s follow up to the Best Picture nominee, Us. Starring Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) and Winston Duke (Black Panther) in this confident and bold horror film fueled by the creative eye of Jordan Peele.
We’re two years removed from Get Out and it’s still hard to believe that the guy behind some of this era’s wackiest sketches has evolved into a beloved and highly revered film-maker. After Get Out took the world by storm, everyone turned their eye towards Peele in anticipation for what he would be bringing to the screen next. When the first trailer for Us released it settled in that Peele would be pursuing another psychological horror film that was sure to deliver relevant social commentary. If you anticipated just that, you were right, and you’ve earned yourself a shiny new ticket stub to catch Peele’s next home run.
Like Get Out, Peele promises a simple story and uses that as a means to explore complex ideas and themes. It gets off to a rocky start and Peele opens up doorways he may have never intended, but that doesn’t stop him from turning this into an absolute blast to watch. The way that he visualizes this journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring and a step-up in confidence from what was seen in Get Out. There’s a firm grip on his strengths as a film-maker and he uses that as a gateway to really dig into the mind of the audience. To make us second guess what we thought was true, and he instills a tethered trust with us by not painting his mischievous scheme by numbers.
Sure, a consistent moviegoer may draw conclusions earlier than Peele intended, but the journey to those points is nothing short of remarkable. Which may have to be contributed to the lead performances from Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, and the rest of the Wilson family in Evan Alex and Shahadi Wright Joseph. The family dynamic is the driving force to make the imagery so profound and deeply affecting. There’s a level of care attached to their experiences because of Peele’s signature comedy that balances the scales. Nyong’o is the standout though as the range she showcases here might be one of the most versatile performances of the decade. From a knife-wielding psycho, to a loving mother, there’s so much achieved in simple tear-shed. Despite critical acclaim for almost 10 years now, Us should be her “breakout” performance that turns her into a box office draw for moviegoers, and this is arguably her best work yet.
In conclusion, Us promises a bright future for the first and only Jordan Peele (sorry to all the Jordan Peeles out there that didn’t break into the spotlight). There is a distinguishable identity to the craft and perspective he brings to the medium where he molds big ideas to fit the exploration of his own. There’s a distinct level of scale in plotting and narrative that allows for a blossoming of horrors that invade our psychological spaces that force us to ask questions where we may be fearful otherwise. It’s really the best type of horror film, and a follow-up that makes us reminisce of Shyamalan, Kubrick, and Hitchcock. There’s a level of sincerity and purposefulness to the topics it wants to discuss, and a form of efficiency that entrusts the audience to draw conclusions through their own unique experiences. Although the writing could have used some white out here or there, Jordan Peele turns a potential Sophomore slump into a Senior year graduation. A propulsion into accumulating a level of prestige and excellence that clears pathways for Peele to do whatever he wants, however he wants, and whenever he wants.
Us gets a 92/100