Get Out

UK Release Date: 17 March 2017

Certification: 15

Director: Jordan Peele

Cast: Betty Gabriel, Lil Rel Howery, Caleb Landry Jones, Daniel Kaluuya, Catherine Keener, LaKeith Stanfield, Bradley Whitford, Allison Williams

Rating: 92%

The greatest directorial debut of all time?

Review:

Get Out is Jordan Peele's directorial debut and he's able to craft an intelligent horror movie. With some terrific performances, an unsettling score and some brilliant racial commentary no wonder Get Out received four Oscar nominations. 

Key and Peele is a superb comedy sketch show so I'm not exactly sure how Jordan Peele was able to effortlessly transition to an alarming horror film for his directorial debut. Peele also wrote the script for Get Out and the amount of care taken in the production of the movie is clear for all to see. Since Get Out, Peele has become one of my favourite directors and I absolutely can't wait for his new feature - Nope. 

Daniel Kaluuya is exceptional as Chris Washington, who ends up at his white girlfriend's parent's house for the weekend. He'd been in a few supporting roles previously but Get Out really saw Kaluuya excel to Hollywood stardom. He thoroughly deserved his Oscar nomination due to the iconic 'sunken place' scene alone. All of the Armitage's are menacing and unpleasant especially Rose (Alison Williams) and Dean (Bradley Whitford). Williams' sudden, but hinted at, switch from girlfriend to psychopath is executed perfectly and Whitford's many instances of 'casual' racism make him unlikeable from the very beginning. LaKeith Stanfield is marvelous with his limited screen time. But Lil Rel Howery provides outstanding comic relief. He's definitely seen horror movies before as he understands the tropes allowing him to make smart decisions. 

But Get Out is fantastic mainly due to the fact that it's a clever movie. Peele sprinkles subtle hints regarding the movie's ending throughout act one. Whether it's scenes foreshadowing the climax or moments that have deeper significance to wider issues in society. 

Looking back, Get Out is only heightened by paying close attention. Jordan Peele drops subtle hints surrounding the movie's conclusion throughout the run time and if you're switched on whilst watching it makes for a rewarding movie experience. Rose doesn't try to stop the cop from seeing Chris's registration because he's black but instead to cover her tracks. Chris can tell that Logan, Georgina and Walter aren't black and that's smart storytelling because it means the audience are able to easily relate to the protagonist. 

Micheal Abels' score is both unnerving and spine tingling. 'Hypnosis', 'The Auction' and 'Finding the Keys' are sensational pieces of music that help enhance the feeling of dread and apprehension created by Peele. However, my favourite theme is the one which opens Get Out, 'Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga'. The Swahili phrase translates to listen to the ancestors and I physically can't describe how brilliant and intelligent that really is.