Jordan Peele brings a second horror-thriller to the big screen in the form of Us. Very different from his debut, Get Out, he brings us a new film with plenty of tension and suspense led by the incredible talents of Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, and Elisabeth Moss.

The film follows Adelaide and her family as they return to her childhood home near the sea for the summer. Haunted by meeting her doubleganger as a child, she becomes more distressed whilst her family and friends relax around her, fearing the doubleganger will return. The night after their arrival, Adelaide and her family are met by their doubles, terrorised relentlessly, and find that the only way to survive is to fight them or die.

I always aim to keep my reviews spoiler-free but I will advise that the trailers only skim the surface of the movie. It’s intense and has several twists and turns, and the plot evolves from interesting horror into something unique for modern day cinema. The initial impression I had was that the film is, in a word, weird. It is incredibly good but it’s also incredibly strange. I was left with the sense that I had seen a masterpiece but also that there were explanations missing that I wanted answers to. The film left me wanting more which is no bad thing; it was a well-crafted film with a satisfying ending, but I craved more of the film. The soundtrack was stunning, adding tension and movement to the film, and the camera work was exquisite. What also made this film wonderful and watchable was that it didn’t rely on cheap jumpscares as are so frequently found in the horror genre. There was violence and tension which was beautifully merged with Peele’s sharp sense of humour. However, on reflection of the film and a quick Google, the film evolves into a social commentary almost too subtle to catch the first time viewing it.

This film is completely different to Get Out. It doesn’t have obvious social commentary, but it isn’t your average cheesy, churned-out horror you frequently come across. It might not be a film everyone could enjoy but if you watch it without expectations, you will definitely be surprised and enraptured with this piece of modern cinema. It is also worth re-watching to catch the intricacies and the real depth and symbolism to the film you may have otherwise missed due to being too captivated by the amazing acting and being on the edge of your seat. If you’ve seen the film and are stumped by it, Google ‘Hands Across America’ and you’ll find some stunning sources of explanation.

Director: Jordan Peele
Writer: Jordan Peele
Stars: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss
Lauren Jones
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