Get Out [Horror Movie Review]
Get Out is a difficult movie to encompass in a short, spoiler-free review. It's definitely a film that warrants a second and third viewing. Essentially, the plot revolves around a man named Chris. He is black and his girlfriend, Rose, is white. Rose wants him to meet her family, and though Chris expresses discomfort toward being in an isolated area as one of the only black people present, he acquiesces to Rose's request.
While in the remote estate, Rose's parents come off as strange but amicable. Her father insists that Obama is the best president of his lifetime; in fact, he voted for him twice and definitely would've voted for him a third time if he could. As well as that, several other characters talk about how they love Tiger Woods and show offense at the implication that they aren't colorblind in regards to race, rather than showing concern for perpetuating such thoughts. Alongside that, Chris is sexually objectified, a nod to the "black men are better in bed" stereotype that depicts these men as hypersexual and aggressive. As such, this overcompensating behavior, as well as the odd docility of the black servants, clues the viewer in on an insidious element.
Jordan Peele does a great job at depicting a sort of liberal racism, the racism of those who insist they are inclusive but still encroach upon marginalized people. It is a brilliant move to deconstruct these subtler displays of racism that are nevertheless prevalent and perpetuated by those who'd be appalled to be accused of racism.
In terms of execution, the composition is excellent. Peele draws from classics such as Night of the Living Dead and Psycho. There is also a nod to Othello for all you Bill Shakes fans. Also, besides the black-and-white chiaroscuro in the lighting, there's also, especially in the third act, a heavy presence of yellow lighting and blue shadows, or a yellow environment with blue accents, such as Chris in a blue jacket while sitting in a gold-lit room. This contrast is harsh and effective.
The foreshadowing and the recurring deer/hunting motif are also well done. This is the sort of film where, upon reflection, many characters utilize a double-speak where everything they say has an intention that is not immediately obvious. The writing is extremely well-crafted on all fronts. Even when a character makes a spotty decision, the film establishes why he would make this choice based on past experiences. If I were to criticize anything, I'm unsure if this was because of meddling on Blumhouse's part, but for a film with great tension-building, the first half has a loooooot of jumpscares that are a bit silly. They didn't kill my enjoyment of the story, but they did irk me, especially because of the loud scare chords.
Overall, Get Out is fun, smart, and memorable. I highly recommend this one if you like Peele's "social horror" approach, or just well-executed horror. Also, hey, apparently Jeffrey Dahmer can be a source of a tear-producing hilarious joke. Who knew?