Get Out – 4.5/5 – Movie Reviews by Ry!
Get Out – 4.5/5 – For all the movies that you can see throughout the year; there are always a few that stand out high above for particular reasons. One of those reasons is a unique draw of blending creativity into something that becomes completely unexpected. From the comedic mind comes a movie that redefines what we know as horror. From the unfolding social context, atmospheric detail, strong characters and downright pure horrific thrilling elements; Get Out can go stand proudly in the catalog of one of the truly best horror movies of all time.
Premise: Visiting the home of his girlfriend’s family, Chris becomes weary of the strange things happening. With no time to spare; will he be able to escape before the truth is revealed.
The acting is a mixture of new and upcoming actors/actresses. For the full list, please go to the IMDb page. Some of the stand outs are:
Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington
Allison Williams as Rose Armitage
Catherine Keener as Missy Armitage
Bradley Whiteford as Dean Armitage
LilRei Howery as Rod Williams
Everyone (across the board) do an outstanding job in their roles. From the main character (Chris) to the rest of the supporting cast; they all blossom into deep characterization when it comes to morphing what is seen in any average horror. These characters exude the pure sensation of depth, perception and unhinging eerie/vile tension with every scene and interaction. With an intriguing sense of raw detail, you feel relevancy between the social context and horror techniques. What you see is a humanistic fabric that is honest on the surface; but creative within the sense of characterization of a fictional tale. They all do enough to swell emotions, draw out intrigue of the situation and provide shock with genuine fear. Each actor/actress tackles the typical tropes through dynamic elements by bending perception into an unpredictable tone. This helps makes you feel, cheer or hate the characters on the screen.
I can only describe the general complexion of the direction and script as a game changer. Being the writer and director; Jordon Peele steps out of his comical routes (to an extent); and breathes new life in a stale formula. What he does is provide a multilayer story that blends realism within the fanatical. Through the main character being placed in the common ‘fish out of water’ scenario; you watch the story stick its roots through the realistic themes of racism, conformity and an unsolicited class system. The social context breathes new life into the horror genre. Flavoring a witty, smart and delicate script within a capsulated dark atmosphere; you feel the pressures of everything through the eyes of the main character. You are inched towards something darkly and mysterious from all his interaction with his girlfriend’s family; but cannot put your finger on what is really sinister. From the subtle use of dark lighting, ominous dialogue, jump scares and unexplained imagery; it builds a puzzle for the audience to figure out the truth. This guess game adds another level to the ‘all eyes watching you’ mantra; building on that true dread in each minute the main character stays with his girlfriend at her parents’ home. As you move through the first two acts, the dramatic tension builds you up, the horror brings you to the edge, and the unorthodox comedy bridges the serious scenes with ease. That breakup between scenes is precise and tight within the script. Eventually, all the ‘bread crumbs’ of the odd family leads to some big reveals; turning the film into a full blown horror flick. The aura of methodical pacing within the mixing of indifferent techniques helps makes this third act feel complete. Without spoiling anything; the final act gives the audience a linear progression towards gratification. Even if there are a lot well-known horror techniques used; it never takes away from the emotional turmoil and high tension that has been built up till now. The common techniques are melded with smart exposition; adding to the creative depth built in the first two acts. The climax is something of an unpredictable outcome. What this ending does is break from the norm with a meaningful point of reflection for the main character.
The visuals are very ominous and brooding. No matter if its day or night; the cinematography feels very common when it comes to a horror film. From the woods to the home of the Armitages; it is still ironically creepy in a very simple way. The score does not have a real strong part in the story.
Get Out is a horror film that redefines the genre. From the script, the characters to the overall dread; you will leave this film wanting more. If you’re a fan of horror or want to see a game changer; this is one for you. It is worth the full price of admission; one that will create scares for days to come.