Creating something that no other horror film has accomplished before, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” effortlessly combines comedy, thrills and themes of social justice.  

Peele’s debut movie was  an immediate hit, making almost $80 million in just two weekends, while receiving  positive reviews from the New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.

In the movie, interracial couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) decide to take their relationship to the next level. Rose invites Chris to meet her family on a weekend trip to her parent’s house.

Shortly after meeting Rose’s family, Chris feels  uncomfortable because of the way they are dealing with the fact that he is black. They seem to be tailoring everything they say to his race, which does not bother Chris right away. However, Chris later learns that there is much more going on than what meets the eye.

The cast embodies their characters extremely well. Kaluuya perfectly portrayed one of the most relatable main characters in a horror movie to date. As a black male meeting his white girlfriend’s parents, he has a hard time telling if his suspicions are  real  or just paranoia, something other interracial couples may likely deal with.

The script compliments everyone’s role; however ,the stand-out character is Chris’s best friend Rod (Lil Rel Howery), who  represents what everyone in the audience is thinking. Rod serves as the comic relief and voice of reason, which is rarely  incorporated well into thrillers.

This horror-thriller fusion contains an intricate plot that must be followed very carefully to fully understand. Symbolism runs throughout the veins of the entire movie. Everything shown on screen  connects to Peele’s overall message. Underlying themes of culture appropriation, police brutality and white superiority make this movie more serious that what can be seen on the surface.
The music was also extremely important to the movie’s overall tone; it’s simplicity allow the story to be heard more directly and clearly. One of the standout songs comes in the beginning of the movie. “Redbone” by Childish Gambino wails throughout Chris’ appartment with lyrics including “stay woke” and “don’t you close your eyes.”

Peele has recently made the announcement that more “social demon” horror movies are in the making and with how well-received “Get Out” was, many predict nothing but success in Peele’s future.

His focus on the “human monster” makes the movie even more terrifying. There were no ghosts or immortal serial killers out to get the main character, but instead normal people. Rose’s dad even claims that “he would have voted for Obama a third time” to make sure Chris believed that the family wasn’t racist.

Considering the political state of the country, “Get Out” is a refreshing take on modern racism and how detrimental it can really be.