Us

NOTE: This was written alongside a leftover bag of Sour Skittles from the movie theater. Think of it as brain food. Oh and there are no spoilers here, I'm not a monster. Anyway, shall we?...


            Two words: Jordan. Peele. You know him even if you don't think you do. If this name does not ring a bell then please, by all means, stop reading and head on over to Wikipedia. But no, finish reading this first, won't take too long.

            Two years ago, the world was sucked into the Sunken Place and flipped over Get Out, the psychological thriller that gave a completely new spin and twisted interpretation on racism. This was not only genius work but also the directorial and screenwriting debut of Mr. Jordan Peele who is previously famous for being half of Comedy Central's sketch variety show Key & Peele. Get Out won Peele pretty much every accolade in the film industry including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. What makes this movie so noteworthy is the extremely in-depth symbolism hidden in plain sight with a light-hearted eeriness that you can't look away from. Great news, he is at it again with you, me, them, or just Us. 

            To get started, the Wilson family is made up of Adelaide and Gabe along with their kids, Zora and Jason. They are on a trip to an old family cabin near Santa Cruz where Adelaide spent much of her childhood. There, they are meeting the Tyler family (Kitty, Josh, and their twin daughters Becca and Lindsey) for some beach fun and catching up. Later into the first night, the power goes out and Jason Wilson says "There's a family standing in our driveway." Sure enough, there in the shadows are four people standing hand-in-hand motionless. Turns out, this other family, dressed identically in red jumpsuits, are nearly carbon copies of the Wilson's with just a touch of disturbed cringeworthy expressions.

             That's the bare bones of it all and you probably already knew that from watching the previews. But here's an inside clue: pay attention and don't mask your eyes. Look at the surroundings and just go along for the ride. The meticulous detail that Jordan Peele puts into his writing and execution is on a completely different level than movie goers are ready for.

            Still with me?

            Worry not, though. The scares are present and hand-dipped by Peele and his signature style of breaking tension with a quick joke and then diving right back into the fright that's still unfolding. It is not individual scenes that are terrifying, per se, it's the half-second switches and suspense that frightening. Us parallels and references all the reasons we love horror films like The Shining, Funny Games, The Strangers, and Jaws (that's right, I said it).

            This is meant to be a funhouse that keeps you guessing around every corner--literally. If you take it too seriously then you'll be bored and that's not why you watch a movie, right? The best thing to keep in mind is to not be afraid to let your imagination wander and just be a long for the ride. Don't resist having more questions raised than you had before you watched it.

            Us has a particular movement and physicality to it that sets it apart. What I mean is that not only do the camera angles put you right in the action as you turn your head and look in the corner behind you but the actors the actors themselves move subtly and with a spine-tingling purpose. The music choice of distorted and string-filled instrumental score placed with some throwback recognizable hip-hop somehow add further mystery throughout.

           Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave, Black Panther) stars as Adelaide Wilson and her doppelganger moves with swift concentration that is unstoppable. Her husband, Gabe played by Winston Duke (Black Panther) has much of the one-liners and his twin is a tower lumbering muscle. Zora and Jason (Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex) turn in performances beyond their years while stealing the scenes with some of the more memorable and shuddering moments. Supporting the Wilson family is Elisabeth Moss (A Handmaid's Tale), Tim Heidecker, and Cali and Noelle Sheldon who have their own fun as the Tylers.

            Let's wrap it up, is it worth the hype? Yes, it is simply because of Jordan Peele's diverse style of storytelling and risk-taking.
            Will you have nightmares? No, but it will keep you up at night for other reasons.
            What will it win? No Oscars this time around but the underlying themes that come up while you scratch your head afterward are a prize among themselves.
            Leaving the theater unsatisfied? Let's talk it out, or just go see it twice after already seeing double.