US

Release Date: Malaysia, 21 Mar 2019

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Running Length: 1:56

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker

Director: Jordan Peele 

Screenplay: Jordan Peele 

Get Out was my #02 film of 2017 so I was naturally excited to see Jordan Peele's next film. Eventhough I was told that his follow-up US has more horror elements compared to his directorial debut, I dragged myself to watch it. 

For those who know me, I don't enjoy the straight out horror genre (I HATE JUMP SCARES!). I would only go watch one if the filmmakers have something fresh and creative to tell. For example, Get Out is a social commentary in the horror genre. 

So was Us fresh?

Packed with symbolism and metaphors, this movie is trying to say something...but I don't know what. 

"Kids, don't play with fire"

Whereas Get Out was a focused movie, I felt that Jordan Peele was too busy preaching a variety of topics to the viewers in this one; the current political red-blue divide in US ("US" get it??), the marginalized, free will etc. 

What's the plot about? 

A family of four wishing to spend some pleasant vacation time together is disrupted when a group of four people who look like them showed up on their front door and start terrorizing them. I mean, "terrorizing" is an understatement because halfway through the movie, things just go absolute bonkers. 

"Hello neighbour, can we borrow some salt?"

This is a horror movie after all. So was it terrifying? 

Well, there are some memorable moments like the home invasion sequence but overall, it's actually pretty tame. There are some mild gory moments played for laughs.   

As for the performances, both Lupita and Winston are very good here as the couple (they both appeared in Black Panther). Lupita is very believable as the anxious and paranoid mother while Winston is the comic relief. 

In summary, despite its puzzling and thought-provoking premise (I was pondering about it over two days), Us was somewhat mixed for me. That said, I will still be anticipating Jordan Peele's next movie as I admire his "social thriller" approach to his creations. 

RATING: 7/10