Get Out

Rating: 5/5

Get Out is a groundbreaking film that will make you both laugh and jump out of your seat in fright.

Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) is a photographer who is about to go away for the weekend to meet his girlfriend Rose's (Allison Williams) family. Though he is happy to be invited to her childhood home, he is a little uneasy with the fact that Rose's family does not know that he is black. With Rose's assurance that everything will be just fine, the two head out for the weekend.

Once arriving at her parent's house, things seem to be as normal as they can be. Her father, Dean Armitage (Bradley Whitford) appears to be trying a bit too hard, but nothing out of the ordinary. Though a little unsettled, Chris does his best to appear at ease with the events of the weekend. That all changes when the Armitages host a garden party consisting of their close friends. It is not long before Chris begins to notice that something is definitely not right.

When Get Out first hit theaters, it caused a major buzz amongst the film world. The hype it received was absolutely warranted. Going into the movie, you expect to be watching a straight horror film, but there is an effortless humor to it that makes watching Get Out a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The laughs are some of the better moments of comedy I have seen in awhile, with the scares being equally as original.

One of the most talked about pieces to Get Out is the way in which the film tackles the topic of race. This movie is clearly about the issues that can arise when someone is put in the presence of close-minded people, and it comes off in a topical and relevant way, without beating the viewer over the head with it. It is clear that director and writer, Jordan Peele, wanted the racial commentary to be clearly present throughout the film, but not be the sole focus of the plot. By doing so, the message is presented in a more accessible way to its' audience.

The performances in Get Out are not only genuinely frightening, but they are incredibly believable as well. When Chris arrives at the Armitage's home, you can see that there's something off with their hired help, but you just can't quite put your finger on it. By downplaying the idiosyncrasies, the horror is heightened. It leaves the viewer with an incredible sense of unease, and that subtlety is just part of the many brilliant aspects to Get Out.

Get Out is the type of movie that warrants multiple viewings, and that cannot be said for many films within the horror genre. Get Out is not just a great scary movie, but is an all around excellent film. It is one of the few times where a movie that you would not expect to receive the main stream accolades it deserves, actually gets recognized for its' greatness.

2018 Winner Best Original Screenplay - Jordan Peele