MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Get Out’

‘Get Out’

By Lucas Allen

In recent years, the horror genre has been revitalized by independent filmmakers who don’t use too many conventions to make for a scary good time. As with last January’s M. Night Shyamalan production “Split,” “Get Out” comes from the mind of Jordan Peele. You may recognize Peele as one half of the comedy duo Key and Peele from MAD TV and their popular Comedy Central show. Turns out, he can write good things other than comedy.

Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) is a young African-American photographer living with Caucasian girlfriend Rose Armitage (Allison Williams from HBO’s “Girls”). They’re spending the weekend at the estate of her parents, Dean and Missy (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener), and brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones), who instantly welcome him into their home. At first Chris seems fine with their hospitality, but the presence of the family’s servants, Walter and Georgina (Marcus Henderson and Betty Gabrie), and Missy’s unorthodox approach as a psychiatrist makes him start to feel some unease.

Then there’s the weekend cookout, where the guests each want to get to know Chris in their own special way. Meanwhile, his friend Rod (funnyman Lil’ Rel Howery) warns him of impending danger when he connects unsolved missing person reports to the estate. Secrets soon come to light as Chris tries to survive the weekend with his new family.

The entire setup makes it sound more like a comedy a la “Meet the Parents” with psychological horror awkwardly mixed in. But Peele’s script goes above that notion by wonderfully combining horror and satire rather than straightforward humor. It’s certainly timely considering the current state of the country, and Peele was able to write his story in such a way that it should be widely appealing to anyone who isn’t into horror.

The story itself, which is refreshingly original, is certainly one of the most bizarre in recent memory. It’s pretty shocking in context, but it’s debatable how such a wide audience would react to certain elements like racism, especially in today’s society. However if you’re all right with the context, then you’ll find something to enjoy, including the second half. Chris’ escape without spoiling the twists and turns is exceptional and satisfying, filled with scares and laughs.

While Peele doesn’t have any big names starring in his movie, he managed just enough good actors to work with. The actors do a good job selling the film’s unusual believability playing the characters as real human beings, though some of them do get pretty sinister. It’s easy to say after watching the film that Peele is the next Shyamalan, but let’s hope whatever he chooses to do next doesn’t lead him to the same downward spiral.

If you’re not sure after what you’ve heard from word of mouth, “Get Out” is worth a watch that’s different from the usual fare. Hopefully the success of this film will prompt Hollywood studios to leave out the cookie-cutter stuff and let talented filmmakers do the movies they want to do, no matter the risk.

THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for violence, bloody images, and language including sexual references)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)