Written by Jordan Peele
Producers Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Jordan Peele
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, Catherine Keener
Music Michael Abels
Cinematography Toby Oliver
Comedian Jordan Peele makes his directorial debut with Get Out, a movie that’s not only original but chilling as well. Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams star as Chris Washington and Rose Armitage, an interracial couple spending a weekend at Rose’s parents’ house. Peele, best known for the sketch series Key & Peele, proves he’s more than a brilliant comedian. He’s also a brilliant writer who can take a topical issue and weave it into a truly terrifying story full of symbolism, thrills, and great directing.
Chris is a Black photographer who has been dating Rose, who is White, for several months. When they head off to meet her parents, Dean and Missy Armitage (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener), the couple gets a very warm welcome at the door. But there are some uncomfortable moments. Dean keeps calling Chris “my man,” goes on about a deer infestation, and, of course, brings up “black mold.” Then Rose’s brother, Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones), arrives and starts talking to Chris about his “genetic makeup,” and the unease only builds from there.
The next day, the Armitages host a party where a crowd of White guests gawk at Chris. A professional golfer brings up Tiger Woods, a woman asks if sex really is better with a Black man, and another guest says fair skin is going out of style in favor of Black. They think they’re being friendly, but every remark reduces Chris to a stereotype. Watch the colors, too: most of the guests are wearing something red, like ties, pocket squares, or glasses, while Chris wears blue, a visual cue that sets him apart from everyone else.
The final act shifts gears fast. Peele shows off his skills as a visual storyteller and uses horror techniques to answer questions you’ve had the whole movie. His use of symbolism is truly admirable and cements him as a respected director. The ending will surprise and frighten you, and hopefully it gives viewers a sense of the dread that racism can create.
Beyond the writing and directing, the cast is excellent. Kaluuya is an extremely likable lead and exactly the right pair of eyes for the audience to see the horror underneath. Williams is great in a supporting role with some very emotional moments. Whitford and Keener also shine, showing their range, since both have played very funny characters in the past.
Get Out nods to horror classics like Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, and The Shining, but what you should take from it isn’t the thrills. It’s the message. Most of us have met someone like the partygoers: well-meaning White people who say they’re allies but still treat people of color differently. Some insist they’re colorblind, and they go so far the other way that it becomes almost a horseshoe.
Get Out invites White audiences to see the world through Chris’s eyes and notice how uneasy, and often subtle, racism can feel. Peele’s writing and directing take the best parts of the horror genre and turn them into a story that’s both funny and truly horrifying, all while tackling different pieces of racism. With an exceptional cast and Peele’s clear love for the genre, it delivers a topical message that will hopefully push people to think harder about how they treat others.
