Get Out (2017)

Director/Writer: Jordan Peele

Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Allison Williams, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson

A young African American man (Daniel Kaluuya) is nervous about going to meet the parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) of his white girlfriend (Allison Williams) for the first time...but he has no idea of the ordeal in store for him.

 

Jordan Peele has made an extraordinary debut as writer/director. 

His film is a more visceral, discomforting take on racism that we usually get from more “high-minded” films about race relations, affirming the horror film’s unique ability to comment on the aspects of our culture that trouble us.

 

It is remarkable, and unfortunate, that merely presenting a black protagonist surrounded by whites is enough to put the viewer on edge: politeness becomes evidence that something is being concealed, a well-lit street in a tidy suburban neighborhood takes on a sense of menace, the sudden appearance of flashing lights provokes fear that our hero will be killed rather than saved. 

My only quibble with the film is that the reveal of what the villains of the piece are up to and the need to resolve the plot disturbs the film’s powerful themes, but it still delivers as a terrific horror movie.