This is no ‘Sophomore Slump’, the “Peele Magic” definitely continues with this terrifying thriller, which will keep you on your toes and keep you thinking. You know that there are some films where in you’ll be able to guess the twist right about the middle of the film? Well, in “Us” you’ll keep thinking until the very last second -for a super twist and its just an edge of your seat, unnerving experience. Truly, a memorable cinematic memory.
You will also be holding on to your movie body (or yourself).
The film opens in 1986 which shows a little girl in an amusement park with her parents. Her father, who has had a few many drinks wins her a Michael Jackson “Thriller” T-shirt-(not only is this a clever reference to the setting but it also comes as a little nod and Easter egg as the story progresses, and its something that totally escaped me while watching the film and I just realized as I am writing my review, a good six days after. See, that’s also why the film is so good, all the little details which you may not have been able to pick up when you first watch it, will stay in your subconscious and when you do figure it out its like a light bulb went on in your head).
-as in every paren’t nightmare Adelaide wanders off into the carnival (at night) of course and comes to a House of Mirrors attraction by the beach. There is a mysterious force that draws her in, and amongst the mirrors and reflections inside she finds something too horrible to describe that she is traumatized by this event and represses the memory in her subconscious.
Time passes and Adelaide is headed back to that beach with her husband Gabe (Winston Duke), daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex) for a Summer Vacation but its not all beach and sunshine as Adelaide is still traumatized by the time she wandered off on the beach and as little things come lining up as if in creepy coincidences, she fears that something terrible is about to happen.
Her worst fears are realized when a family of four is seen standing on their driveway.
Incredible performances from the cast all around. Lupita Nyong’o is a force as she plays a terrified mother protecting her children and a beyond eerie doppelganger which has her transforming her voice, stance and movements, as she glides as if in dance in a room, holding on to golden shears, not afraid to strike her prey. Her transformation is something too terrible to describe. It is a physical performance which will haunt your dreams and she is not even wearing prothetics! Just a bit of make up and one damn incredible performance.
Winston Duke’s “corny Dad” persona and jokes are a welcome break from the otherwise dark thriller. At one time you are laughing at his hilarious performance and then you’re back to being scared, then you’re laughing again. Its something that I can say I only experienced with this film. Peele is truly a master of both comedy and horror.
There are some questions which will be left unanswered to a satisfying degree and this may leave viewers disappointed, just don’t get too caught up in the details and you’ll be fine.
Like “Get Out”, “Us” has its social commentary which is a bit more subtle but once the pieces fall into place it is mind blowing. I have to admit that leaving the screening, I didn’t immediately get the themes and messages of the film, which is a bit frustrating for me, since I am the type of person to “get it” right away and the fact the film had me thinking over time was well exhilirating. I found a few articles online which dissects the film and reading them I was able to grasp the film’s messages of how, we imagine these fears or we think of the enemy (let’s take in from the perspective of the US; immigration, different races) that we fail to realize that in order to see the real enemy, all we have to do is to look at a mirror.
On a more relatable, social perspective there is also this gnawing thought that just beyond our beautiful fenced in homes, are those who live beyond the poverty line, especially true in the Philippines. That in this uneven distribution of wealth, there are those, our brothers and sisters and who our school, morality and all around good will tells us we should be socially responsible for. Those who scavenge the garbage for food, while we plan for our next warm meal and I think that, it is just one of the truly scary thoughts about the film. 9/10