Writer & Director / Jordan Peele (Feature film debut)
Stars/ Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford and Caleb Landry Jones

Movies as genius as this are few and far between. Masterfully and studiously crafted, intelligently written and flawlessly executed, GET OUT is a broadly appealing and accessible horror film at heart that functions as a menacing mystery invite to all.

Not a single moment of screen time is wasted in Jordan Peele’s remarkable debut as feature-film director. Peele is pitching a familiar premise that most of us have had to do at some time in our lives – that rather awkward and nerve-wrecking obligatory task of meeting the parents of your partner for the very first time. In GET OUT, that time has arrived for Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African-American photographer who has been dating his Caucasian girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) for four months. Upon their immediate arrival, Chris observes several disconcerting and bizarre sights in the surrounds of the mysterious family estate of Rose’s parents. 

It is both exceedingly fun and playfully haunting to watch. It deliberately provokes questions and is strikingly thought-provoking all at once, all throughout. It is without a doubt one of the very best films of 2017.

Just as intended, the GET OUT screenplay allows plenty of room for the imagination. It cleverly compels its audience to assess each situation and analyse every word spoken in hope that the prediction to its conclusion and its secrets are somewhat accurate. As it keeps turning out, writer/director Jordan Peele is purely toying with that imagination of ours. Like a master player in the game of chess, Peele continually reminds us that he is the king (or queen if you prefer) of this board and we are merely a pawn, guessing moves that he already knows are coming.

Many films can maintain their mystery for most its duration. A few less are able to conjure up a conclusion that justifies and satisfies. A rare combination that catapults GET OUT to an elite level of filmmaking is its seamless integration of realistic themes weaved into a completely fictitious story, done so in a manner that is reminiscent of the brilliant 2014 thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, NIGHTCRAWLER. Another is its innovative amalgamation of genre. Not only is GET OUT a horror film that sustains its mystique right through to the very end, it is also irresistibly funny when it wishes to be and has a surprising amount of depth in its characterisation and storytelling. To place the cherry on top for horror movie lovers, sudden bursts of more stereotypical horror elements are incorporated very tongue-in-cheek style into this superb film. And finally, the conclusion is better than satisfying, it is rewarding. There is virtually no ambiguity to any answers given to many questions raised. These revelations not only make perfect sense of themselves, they will leave you talking about this film for days after and quite likely eager to pay a second visit.

You need to get in to GET OUT, which is simply unmissable!

4 ½ stars

Viewer Discretion/ MA15+ (strong themes and violence)

Trailer / GET OUT

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the distributor pass to see and review this film.

Review by Moviedoc / “LIKE” on Facebook – Moviedoc

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