Jordan Peele’s latest horror thriller, Us, had me squirming in my seat from the tension, but the film's ending needs work. Peele has shown he is brilliant as a comedian on Key and Peele (2012-2015), but was incredible as a filmmaker with his debut film as writer and director, Get Out (2017). Comparisons should not be made with that movie, but there may be some comparisons to be made with the upcoming Twilight Zone which is executive produced and hosted by Jordan Peele.
He has stated that he was inspired by the “Mirror Image” (1960) episode of the original Twilight Zone. The show had a woman waiting for a bus and sees someone who looks like her at the depot! It seems like the title not only speaks about the family and their dark reflection, but also points to the nature of ourselves. It begins with a text explaination of tunnels that run throughout the country. This and other scenes at the opening seem disconnected, but it all comes together at the conclusion. Then we get an opening of a television screen, there are video cassettes of Goonies (1985) and C.H.U.D. (1984) as well as a few others, we get a news report about the Hands Across America. Then the film has the 1986 date.
He has stated that he was inspired by the “Mirror Image” (1960) episode of the original Twilight Zone. The show had a woman waiting for a bus and sees someone who looks like her at the depot! It seems like the title not only speaks about the family and their dark reflection, but also points to the nature of ourselves. It begins with a text explaination of tunnels that run throughout the country. This and other scenes at the opening seem disconnected, but it all comes together at the conclusion. Then we get an opening of a television screen, there are video cassettes of Goonies (1985) and C.H.U.D. (1984) as well as a few others, we get a news report about the Hands Across America. Then the film has the 1986 date.
There is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which features the Giant Dipper roller coaster, it is a historic landmark, Santa Cruz is a little north of Monterey. There is a family, a father, Russell (Yahya Abdul-Mateen), mother (Anna Diop), and little daughter (Madison Curry). The casting is an interesting convergence of superhero actors. Abdul-Mateen played Black Manta in Aquaman (2018) and Diop plays Kory Anders in the Titans streaming series. The father wins a Thriller t-shirt at a carnival game for his daughter. She has a candy apple as she is left with her father playing Whack-A-Mole. The daughter starts to wander off, she passes a strange man with a sign, “Jeremiah 11:11”, it’s meaning might be a spoiler!
She continues down steps to a night beach with thunder clouds overhead. The young daughter is compelled towards a funhouse which promises finding yourself. It starts to rain and the power goes out. This got me on edge. Mirrors confuse her and then she looks at someone who looks exactly like her! The tension is eased when we get the titles with a pullback from rabbits. Then, we get a “Current Day” with another family, the Wilsons; mother, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), father, Gabe (Winston Duke), and kids, older sister, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and younger brother, Jason (Evan Alex). Of course both Nyong’o and Duke were in Black Panther (2018), but this is really a showcase for Lupita Nyong’o.
She continues down steps to a night beach with thunder clouds overhead. The young daughter is compelled towards a funhouse which promises finding yourself. It starts to rain and the power goes out. This got me on edge. Mirrors confuse her and then she looks at someone who looks exactly like her! The tension is eased when we get the titles with a pullback from rabbits. Then, we get a “Current Day” with another family, the Wilsons; mother, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), father, Gabe (Winston Duke), and kids, older sister, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and younger brother, Jason (Evan Alex). Of course both Nyong’o and Duke were in Black Panther (2018), but this is really a showcase for Lupita Nyong’o.
Duke was winning as M’Baku in Black Panther, but here he has a different side as a dad joke father, wears glasses, but still has a massive frame. Zora is a teenager who is more interested in her headphones and later we find that she gave up running track. Jason (named after producer Jason Blum?), he likes his gorilla mask (shades of M’Baku?), and is trying to flick a magic trick lighter. I can’t wait for the next projects of both Wright Joseph, (she has upcoming the live action Lion King) and Alex. There are moments of humor that are perfect, working with the film’s story, and relieving some of the tension. Gabe has rented a cabin in the woods, yup there is always a horror warning there, but he is even more excited for his motorboat on the lake.
He also hopes to go down to the beach to meet with friends, the Tylers, but Adelaide is hesitant. We get that the young girl who met her doppleganger at the fun house was Adelaide. The family drives over to Santa Cruz beach. They meet at the beach, Kitty Tyler (Elisabeth Moss) and her husband, Josh Tyler (Tim Heidecker). Moss is of course known for playing June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale. Later, we see Moss play a side of her character that is completely creepy. Heidecker is part of the comedy duo Tim & Eric and last year he was in Ant-Man and the Wasp. They are the wealthy vacationers who love to drink and relax. Their daughters are Becca (Cali Sheldon) and Lindsey (Noelle Sheldon). The actresses are twin sisters. Jason heads to the bathroom and passes the funhouse, now called Merlin’s Forest. He sees what looks like almost like a scarecrow, a man in a coat. Adelaide panics and searches the beach until finding her son.
He also hopes to go down to the beach to meet with friends, the Tylers, but Adelaide is hesitant. We get that the young girl who met her doppleganger at the fun house was Adelaide. The family drives over to Santa Cruz beach. They meet at the beach, Kitty Tyler (Elisabeth Moss) and her husband, Josh Tyler (Tim Heidecker). Moss is of course known for playing June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale. Later, we see Moss play a side of her character that is completely creepy. Heidecker is part of the comedy duo Tim & Eric and last year he was in Ant-Man and the Wasp. They are the wealthy vacationers who love to drink and relax. Their daughters are Becca (Cali Sheldon) and Lindsey (Noelle Sheldon). The actresses are twin sisters. Jason heads to the bathroom and passes the funhouse, now called Merlin’s Forest. He sees what looks like almost like a scarecrow, a man in a coat. Adelaide panics and searches the beach until finding her son.
They return back to the cabin, Duke gets a moment that had the audience laughing, but Adelaide is disturbed and wants to leave. This is when Jason discovers that there are is a family; four, silent people, dressed in red, standing in the driveway. Adelaide calls the police and Gabe goes out to confront them. They continue to stand silently, their faces hidden by the shadows, so Gabe returns to get a baseball bat. One of the four gives a signal and the two, young members of the group scatter. The bulky member heads towards the cabin. Gabe tries to close the front door as the big man in red rams into it! The tension reaches a high point here. We find out that Adelaide and her family face identical counterparts, they are listed with names, but that never comes into play in the film. Gabe is wounded facing his double.
Adelaide’s doppleganger, Red, speaks in a raspy, strained voice. Nyong’o is terrific as a disturbed woman and also a mother struggling to keep her family alive. The doppleganger for Jason, Pluto in the script, has a strange mask like something in an insane asylum. He speaks only in animal grunts which is the same as the rest of the family. They, called the Tethered (also in the script), all carry golden scissors which is their primary weapon! The horror of duplicates taking over most reminds me of the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) especially Donald Sutherland's screeching roar. Jason seems to catch on quickly on who they are and also other things so he might be pivotal if this film has a sequel. This is a battle for survival and a chase in the night for the Wilson family. If the scope of the film was kept to this family it would be great. There is an attempt to show this incident has spread, but no explanation on how it occurred and who is responsible. I think there are hints, but nothing satisfying. It has been noted by critics that US could also stand for United States and the sins inside are released outside. If so, I would have liked a better set up earlier in the film. Still, for a good part of the movie, it had me at the edge of my seat and I can't wait for the next Jordan Peele film!
Adelaide’s doppleganger, Red, speaks in a raspy, strained voice. Nyong’o is terrific as a disturbed woman and also a mother struggling to keep her family alive. The doppleganger for Jason, Pluto in the script, has a strange mask like something in an insane asylum. He speaks only in animal grunts which is the same as the rest of the family. They, called the Tethered (also in the script), all carry golden scissors which is their primary weapon! The horror of duplicates taking over most reminds me of the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) especially Donald Sutherland's screeching roar. Jason seems to catch on quickly on who they are and also other things so he might be pivotal if this film has a sequel. This is a battle for survival and a chase in the night for the Wilson family. If the scope of the film was kept to this family it would be great. There is an attempt to show this incident has spread, but no explanation on how it occurred and who is responsible. I think there are hints, but nothing satisfying. It has been noted by critics that US could also stand for United States and the sins inside are released outside. If so, I would have liked a better set up earlier in the film. Still, for a good part of the movie, it had me at the edge of my seat and I can't wait for the next Jordan Peele film!
Three Gold Scissors out of Five!
#UsMovie, #JordanPeele, #LupitaNyongo, #WinstonDuke
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