Login
Jordan Peele made a colossal impact with his debut feature "Get Out" and all eyes were on him when time came for his follow-up effort. The burden of the sophomore slump has taken many down with it but its pretty safe to say that Peele won't be one among those. "Us" proved that he not only deserves to be in the genre but that he is truly an innovator that it desperately needs.
The story follows Adelaide Wilson (a riveting Lupita Nyong'o) whose childhood encounter with a picture perfect double of herself leaves her seemingly traumatized into adulthood. When visiting the place of that encounter during a vacation later in life, she and her family are confronted by their duplicates, angry beings that crave the life that their counterparts have for themselves.
"Us" is conceptually rich and excitingly original. Even if one can trace the idea of doppelgangers to plenty of folk tales, Peele takes that eerie concept out of the realm of rumor and into that of feasibly realistic while never losing any of the otherworldy aura. A deft feat indeed and achieved here by making the origins of the doppelgangers not so much the point of the story more than a reason for it to happen.
Though much entertainment and intrigue is derived from working out the the origins of these creatures (dubbed the Tethered) the real wallop of the story comes from its subtext and almost cautionary message. Yes, much like "Get Out" before it there are bigger things at play here but, dare I say, the horror takes the front seat in this one and Peele's approach to social commentary is much more deft and careful. In the span of two films his touch was expertly refined making this movie much easier to digest as entertainment while never once losing sight of its goals.
Adding to the appeal of the film is the fact that the villains are, in effect, played by the very same people playing the protagonists. Nyong'o shines in the dual roles and if i were forced to give you only one good reason to see this movie I'd say watch it to see her work. Peele also has quite the eye for making the uncanny feel uncomfortable and credible while never losing any artistic touch. The outstanding and unique score, as well, contributes to the unsettling atmosphere. Special kudos to Peele's continued innovative approach to tension relieving comedy in his work. It proves a breath of fresh air to the standards that have plagued the genre for years.
The Tethered themselves fall in that category that brands them immediately iconic with their strikingly red jumpsuits and jerky, volatile demeanor. It's definitely no easy task to create something so simple and yet so instantly recognizable. Coupled with a genuinely interesting backstory and, more importantly, being utilized to represent the manner in which we tend to create our own greatest foes by keeping certain people "in our shadows" but never allowing them to rise, the Tethered prove that they are also substance above style.
To say more about "Us" is to ruin a genuinely engaging experience. Peele has sealed his status as an important figure in horror and in the course of two films has elevated the art. "Us" walks that fine line between message and entertainment expertly. It also provides us with some of the most memorable, original, and disturbing villains in a good long while. By no means miss this movie. I give "Us" a 9.5 out of 10.
