“US” is an impressive, nightmarish horror film

Erik Jimenez/Staff Writer

Sophomore slumps are hard to pass when it comes to Hollywood directors, especially if their first film was considered a modern-day masterpiece. And Jordan Peele had a massive task to follow up “Get Out,” a funny, creepy and entertaining flick that has become a pop culture icon due to the racial politics it discussed.

“US” is exactly that type of film.

By doubling down on the horror aspects and cutting out most of the comedy which would have made the genre of the picture ambiguous, Jordan Peele has delivered a nightmarish film unlike any other in a long time.

The film follows the Wilson family – wife Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), husband Gabe (Winston Duke), daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and son Jason (Evan Alex) – as they go on a family vacation to Santa Cruz, California. While there, Adelaide becomes worried as memories of a disturbing incident she had when she was younger start coming back to her. This results in her begging Gabe to cut the vacation short before something bad happens. But that night, four intruders that look identical to them break into their house and want nothing more than to kill them. Which means the only option left for the family is to run for their lives.

The film, like “Get Out,” has several twists and turns, especially a major one halfway through the film that turns “US” into a movie run by the logic of nightmares. That logic brings about terrifying images that will stay in the heads of the viewers long after they have left the theater. They are so imposing that the only thing similar that comes to mind are the manga comics by Junji Ito. It makes me question if Peele is familiar with the manga artist, not because Peele rips him off but because the images and the story with its somewhat ambiguous revelations feel reminiscent of Ito.

The acting from the main cast is impressive in both their normal characters and their evil doubles. Duke is both a lovable wisecracker as Gabe, whose comedic lines are on point, and his imposing, intimidating other that takes advantage of his large body mass. Joseph and Alex show impressive talent for child actors as both manage to play their doubles in ways you would swear had to be from another lookalike.

But Nyong’o is the standout here. Not only do both of her roles result in lots of variety and range from the Oscar winner, but since her doppelganger is the only one who speaks, she is the most frightening aspect of the film.

This combined with a creepy score by Michael Abels and a screenplay that, though less comedic, has a few good one-liners to bring about levity make “US” an impressive follow-up to “Get Out” and solidifies Jordan Peele as an immensely talented individual when it comes to horror.

If you are a horror fan, it’s best for you to “Get Out” of whatever you’re doing and go see “US” right now. It is top tier terror.

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