Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a black man, goes with his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), to visit her parents in the country. Having never met them before, Chris is skeptical about meeting the family. When they arrive at the Armitage’s home, Chris becomes suspicious of the family and their ideals. As he and Rose work to keep their relationship as strong as ever, the family gets in the way both physically and emotionally. As Chris slowly begins to warm up to the family, however, things take a turn in a way that he never expected. Get Out is the story of Chris and the struggles he faces with his future in-laws.
Writer-director Jordan Peele is best known for his comic improv and hysterically gripping skits as part of his Comedy Central show, Key and Peele. It has been clear for years, even through these short, comical skits, that Peele possesses a talent for writing, directing and executing his vision with great vigor. Audiences around the world have spoken highly of what he is able to accomplish; the emotion he is able to evoke, the devices by which he is able to present his story and his charming wit keep audiences engaged and allow Peele to be a household name throughout Hollywood. Get Out is a new step for Peele, as he moves from comedy into emotional drama.
Get Out is what, more than ever before, proves Peele’s worth as a writer and director. From the opening moments, a sense of eeriness overcomes viewers as they try to understand what is taking place. The subtle background noises, the trepidatious music and exceptional acting instantly endear audiences and force them into a world of unknowing and anxiety. LaKeith Stanfield, who plays a minor role in the film is what helps get everything started. He is brilliantly talented and has become more and more popular over the course of the past few years; however, his performance in Get Out may just be his best performance to date. This intro, thanks, in part, to Stanfield, helps to solidify Get Out as one of the premier horror/thriller films of the past twenty years.
Stanfield, in a way, is the gateway into a realm of incredible talent. Led by Kaluuya, Get Out showcases his talent along with Williams’, Caleb Landry Jones’ (Jeremy Armitage) and Bradley Whitford’s (Dean Armitage) brilliance as actors. They bring to life Peele’s vision and deliver performances that allow the ambiguity of the story to remain intact. It’s important that the reveals that come as Get Out progresses remain hidden until the right moment. The leads, who are brilliantly supplemented by Jones, keep Peele’s secrets under wraps and allow them to reveal at just the right time, surprising audiences and completing the success of Get Out.
Again, from the opening moments of Get Out, it is clear that Peele was onto something when he scripted the film. The ensemble gets the most out of the script, delivers their lines with such ease and brings the story to the viewers, encapsulating them in this world of darkness and strangeties. It is important that the viewers don’t try too hard to understand what is taking place, while at the same time accepting that everything--every word, every sound, every subtle nuance--plays a role in the story of Chris and the Armitages. Jordan Peele knocks this film out of the park and provides a number of cultural, social and emotional lessons along the way. With a series of layers present throughout Get Out, everyone is able to get something different from the film, making it a true masterpiece and a one-of-a-kind spectacle.
Written & Directed by Jordan Peele. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Lil Rey Howery, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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