As with all of my reviews of films for The Creepercast, I fully recommend that you check each and every one of them out. I am one man and this is my opinion. I've seen plenty of movies that received reviews that were the complete opposite of how I saw the film. These writers, directors, producers and actors all put a lot of time and love into these projects. They deserve to be seen and appreciated for what they are. Everyone has a dream and I fully support the people that take the time to make theirs a reality. With that being said....
The hype behind a film, can be well deserved or a lot of hot air. It can also build the expectations up so much for a fan, that no matter how good the actual film is.... it can never live up to what it's built up to be. 'Get Out' is one of those films. Not only for the quality of the script and direction, but for the handling of several topics in one condensed package. Because of that, I waited a bit before seeing it and went into the experience with no expectations. What I got, for my patience, was well worth the wait and lived up to every bit of the hype. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun with my review, but I've already put this one in my number one position for best horror film of 2017. Granted, the argument can be made that this is more of a psychological thriller, than a horror film, but it had more than enough going on to classify it as such. There is still half of the year, left to go, so things could change with my rankings for this year. Written and directed by Jordan Peele, you could tell that he has a love for the genre and wanted to tell a story that resonated with the audience. It was also obvious, that he is an actor himself, in the way that he directed the scenes and had a feel for what part the cinematography played in the story telling. Sometimes, some of the best films are created by actors, not unlike the works of Ben Affleck or Clint Eastwood. They have a different sense of film making, that those who have never acted, don't seem to always have. It was also fairly clear that this was a story he was wanting to tell. The story being, the African American experience, but using a plot device to create the scenarios he's had to deal with his entire life. Before we get too deep into the nuances of the film, we should probably discuss the plot.
The film begins with a kidnapping of an African American gentleman, who seems to be lost in a suburb. Noticing that he's being followed, he attempts to avoid any possible confrontation, only to be taken anyway. Cut to another scene, we meet Chris (played by Daniel Kaluuya), who's packing for a get away with his girlfriend Rose (played by Allison Williams). They're heading to her parents place, for a first time meeting and Chris is a little apprehensive about the whole idea. His friend, Rod (played by LilRel Howery), isn't helping the situation by expressing some concerns about the trip. They're soon on their way, when they strike a deer in the road. A police officer shows up and even though Chris isn't driving, the officer proceeds to ask for his ID. The audience quickly gets a sense of what's possibly yet to come. As they arrive at her families home, Chris sees that the groundskeeper and maid are the only other African American's anywhere around. Her family explains that they have been working there for years and are basically part of the family. During dinner, he meets Rose's brother, who is unusual in his own way. Things still seem friendly enough as the first day comes to a close, but during a walk out to have a cigarette, Chris is nearly run over by the groundskeeper, who charges at him. He also notices the maid acting bizarrely. As he heads back into the house, Rose's mother hypnotizes him, as a way to help him stop smoking. What he's not aware of, is that this is not the only reason she has hypnotized him. The next day, the family is having an annual party, which consists of only one other African American man. One he mistakes for an elderly gentleman. As they share a brief conversation, the reality sets in that something isn't right. That's as far as I'm willing to go into the plot. I hate trying to retell someone else's story and I don't want to give away any of the major plot points.
Despite its very clear message about racism in America, I never once felt like this film was heavy handed or overly obvious about it. At one key point, even, there was a direct question from Chris about why they chose black people for their experiments. The answer was, that there wasn't a specific reason. If Jordan Peele had wanted to bash us over the head with his message, he could have easily placed a line of dialogue in there that would have made his point loud and clear. Instead, you get the feeling like it could have been anyone that they had chosen in the beginning or that the true sinister reason behind it, had just been lost a long time ago. Either way, it was a smart move on his part to leave it a bit more oblique. The other thing that stood out in this film, was the handling of African Americans in horror. In most films, they're either the first to be killed or a stereotype that perpetuates the stereotype. But even beyond the racial aspects of horror movie protagonists, he also made Chris react in a more 'real world' kind of way. He didn't fall into the usual traps that any horror hero or heroine might. He made smart decisions and thought things through. So not only was he playing against the Hollywood expectation, he was playing against any expectations that have been set by decades of horror film screenwriters and executives. It was an incredibly refreshing change of pace, from the norm that's been established. For that reason alone, it set 'Get Out' above its peers. Add to that, the message beneath the scares and you have something special. I really can't say enough good things about this film.
In today's modern world, it's become harder to tell a scary story. Some writers rely on some tried and true ways to avoid and/or work around modern conveniences that would make it harder for a killer to take a victim. Things like cell phones, cameras on every corner or the internet. 'Get Out' allowed for all of those devices to be utilized, but it still didn't matter. The antagonists could still do as they pleased, no matter how much our hero tried to find away around it. It eventually came down to the simplest solution to a problem, that created an opening for his escape. Before we wrap up this review, I wanted to thank Mr. Peele directly, for not going with his original ending. Both of the filmed endings still had the Hollywood seal of approval, but the alternate one would have been to easy. Too much of the baseball bat to the head, in regards to the message behind the film. What we got instead, was much more satisfying. Perhaps you won't agree with everything I've had to say about this film, but for me it's a hell of a strong way to make his debut as a horror writer and director. A full on 4 out of 5 star film, edging on a 5 out of 5. I say this a lot, but I'm eager to see what he comes up with next. This film had all the earmarks and pedigree of a modern classic. It borrowed from the past, in it's formula, style and pacing and brought in modern elements to balance out the mix. The film works on multiple levels and deserves all the hype and praise its received. I've even added it to my film collection.
If you like this film, check out: 'Rosemary's Baby', 'The Sacrament' and 'Don't Breathe'
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