Us

Jordan Peele's first directorial effort Get Out was a film that took me two viewings to fully appreciate. 

When I first saw it, among all the buzz, I thought it was great but the distinguishing elements that made it a "classic" in some people's eyes were somewhat lost to me. Surely, Jordan Peele of Key & Peele fame and star of Keanu couldn't be an amazing director as well?

Then I watched it a second time. The humor was funnier. The concept a little more brilliant. The deftness with which it deals with race just that much more impressive. And the Sunken Place that much more terrifying. It was the second viewing in which I took Peele seriously as a new director and the result was that Get Out wowed me even more and eventually landed in my Top 10 of 2017. 

Us then, has the benefit of me taking Peele very seriously at this point, hoping that he's not a "fluke" director. Strangely enough I feel like I've partaken in enough horror films now that I no longer feel like a n00b (a prelude of which I'd frequently use to introduce horror-based reviews) and I'm at a stage where I know what I appreciate from this genre. Unsurprisingly, competent filmmaking is at the top of that list, more so than scares. Much like I witnessed in my Retro Review of The Shining, having classic cinematography, music, and editing can go a long way toward making your horror film high art instead of churned art like many [horror] films are today.

With Us, Jordan Peele continues to inch his hat toward that ring of directors who can successfully create incredible horror films that are not only impressive as movies in their general sense, but stick with you and evoke terror. And with this sophomore effort, it's clear to see where his inspiration comes from...there's a reason I name dropped The Shining. 

A powerhouse performance. No other way to say it

Wonder how many Halloween outfits of
the "Us" there will be this year

The best part about Us - and there are many - is that it's an immensely entertaining film and it has a ton of different elements to offer that may not be immediately obvious in the trailers (of which the first "I Got 5 on it" version was one of the best trailers in recent years). Along with being an effective horror film, Us is able to make you laugh - fairly consistently - while also untangling a mystery of what all is going on. The horror, humor, and mystery weave together seamlessly for a film that's a lot more than what you bargained for upon putting your butt in that seat and that's always a good thing. I know that personally I'll need a second viewing of this one to really appreciate all the humor. I tend to tense up in horror films until I know what's going to happen so many of the jokes (intentional or not) I couldn't fully appreciate on the first go round. 

As always, this will be a spoiler-free review, and Us has a lot of secrets to keep. In a way the marketing has been a small misdirection for the film to hide many of its surprises and the film is all the better for it. As the mystery begins to unfold, I became immensely interested in the lore of this "world" Peele had created. Not all that different from some of the best LOST episodes, we're treated to a plot that answers some questions and stirs others. There are a couple big reveals/twists at the end that are delivered with great effect and while I'm not 100% sure that all of them "work" (another reason I need to see it again), the fact that I wanted to figure it out so bad means it was doing its job. 

Weird flex, but ok...

While I write this review I realize that there are many areas where I could go into detail and heap more praise so I'll focus on two in specific. The cast for this film is outstanding and they all deserve credit - Winston Duke continues to be endearing in semi-goofy roles - but the film belongs to Lupita Nyong'o. It's an absolute powerhouse performance from her on several levels and she plays two complex characters terrifically well. Her "us" version is terrifying and intense while her "normal" self is a mother trying to protect her children. She gets a ton of screentime as both parts and is able to convey a range of emotions - from each character's perspective - super effectively. It may only be March, sure, but it's truly Oscar worthy stuff.

Lastly, and this is perhaps where Us has shown the improvement of Peele the most, is that the film is technically near-perfect. The editing is on point and scenes are given their time to breathe, a lot of times it showcases some truly inspired and unique cinematography, and the music, both original and soundtrack, are highly effective and some of the best of the year. It's hard to describe the most effective music in the film because it varies genres, but rest assured that it adds a level of "creep" to the procedure and yes, the utterly terrifying "I Got 5 on it" remix from the trailers does make an appearance. 

Us is a film that will definitely take me another viewing to appreciate it fully. But unlike his debut with Get Out, it's one where Peele finds himself that much more confident as a filmmaker and we (read: I) are more able to easily accept that he could be a director with many more hits for years to come. If Us is the quality of film that we'll continue to get from him then he has a very long and very successful directorial career ahead of him that I cannot wait to witness.

CONS

• From a pacing perspective it seemed to drag in the middle ever so slightly
• I'm not 100% sure one of the big reveals actually works -- will require another viewing
• At times the horror/action aspects feel derivative

PROS

• Fantastic direction by Peele and his raw talent, more so than with Get Out even, shows throug
• Lupita Nyong'o gives us a haunting performance that is sure to be one of the best of the year. She's the star of the show
• Effortlessly weaves effective humor, solid horror elements, and an intriguing mystery all into one
• The mystery in particular will keep people talking and its been what has stuck with me the most having seen it. Unanswered questions are fun to ponder and Us sticks on your mind more than I would have originally anticipated
• Well planned cinematography for nearly every scene with a few using highly effective and creative methods to capture whats going on
• Awesome original score and soundtrack which combine to fit the film perfectly
• Intense but memorable finale that has elements of a Nolan film 
• Immensely entertaining and effective at what it intends to do - plus just a damn well made film to boot!

Rath's Review Score | 9/10