Here is the premise: Chris Washington, a young African American man (Daniel Kaluuya) visits his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) family estate where he learns that many of its residents, who are black, have gone missing, and he soon learns the horrible truth when another frantic African-American warns him to “get out”. He soon learns this is easier said than done.
Jordan Peele, half of the brilliant comedy duo Key and Peele, wrote and directed GET OUT; this is his debut at writing and directing and he picked a fantastic movie to make his debut. Not only is it a great horror movie, but Peele makes a real statement on racism within the realm of the film as well. The story has a feel of the old movie THE STEPFORD WIVES, where women in a town are unusually submissive to their husbands; it was a statement made in the 60’s about the oppression of women and GET OUT does the same justice to the subject of oppression to African Americans. Everything in the film worked so well, even down to the soundtrack, which enhanced the eeriness of the entire film.
The young actors playing the couple, Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, have great chemistry and hold their own against veterans Bradley Whitford and Katherine Keener; I especially loved Lil Rel Howery who plays Chris’s cousin Rod, who is suspicious of the trip after seeing several clues. Rod is the source of the comedy in the film, and he has as much as the story as the rest of the characters.
While the social commentary is throughout the film, it does not take away from the film. If you set it aside, this is still a brilliant piece of work. Peele has an eye for writing and directing and he shows in GET OUT that he could be the next Hitchcock; blending the suspense, awesome story, social commentary and comedy into one great big ball of movie gold.
