Us is a 2019 horror film about a family that eventually meets creepy doppelgängers of themselves.
Jordan Peele may have been known for being a hilarious comedian in Key & Peele, but his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Get Out showcases his talent as a brilliant filmmaker. It’s a fascinating evolution to see someone usually recognized for being a funny person on television to eventually wanting to take on the horror genre. And that movie is no fluke, because his new film Us is proof that this man is a visionary director who enjoys making horror and thriller flicks with great characters and a well-written script. Some things that you have probably loved from Get Out, such as the screenplay, acting, and Peele’s direction are also noticeable in here.
Us revolves around a woman named Adelaide (played marvellously by Lupita Nyong’o) and her family spending their summer vacations at their beach house. One night, they meet a family that looks exactly like them, and they eventually have to confront them. That’s pretty much the gist of the entire movie, but it has some intriguing twists and intense moments of anxiety. As the film goes on, you get invested in the premise from start to finish. Just by watching the first scene, it perfectly sets up the vibe of what Peele is going for. It’s well-paced throughout, because each scene serves its purpose of adding something relevant to the story.
To start off, Nyong’o delivers one of the best performances in her acting career. She does an incredible job playing two different versions of the same person and giving them lots of depth. As the movie introduces to the viewers her backstory, you completely understand where she’s coming from as a person. Winston Duke, who plays her husband Gabe, is also great as he brings a lot of entertaining moments to his character. After showcasing his brilliant acting skills in both Black Panther and Us, he will most certainly be recognized as an actor that the audience should look out for.
Peele shows his amazing skills as a screenwriter by adding humor to the film, while still not compromising the dramatic and creepy tone. He knows when to make the movie comedic or intense in a consistent way that flows really well. It’s not an easy thing to do, but he makes it work. Every time a character says something funny, it’s quite hysterical even if you know Us is not a comedy. When some filmmakers try to do that, it’s noticeably jarring if the tone of their script is inconsistent throughout. Even the musical score, composed by Michael Abels, helps the film become a lot more thrilling during its horror scenes.
Us is a great addition to Peele’s filmography as a director. It is a thrilling, intense, creepy and fascinating film that is elevated with a great script, mesmerizing score and some amazing performances from the cast. It also has a lot of replay value, which definitely makes the movie worth seeing more than once. If you enjoyed Get Out, then you will certainly not want to miss this. Us shows that the horror genre is able to showcase the beauty of cinema with passionate and talented filmmakers as well as any other.