- [Adelaide Voiceover] You know how sometimes
things line up?
- [Clint] With Us, writer/director Jordan Peele
proves that he's no one-trick pony
after the success of his Oscar-winning Get Out in 2017.
Where Get Out is a racially conscious thriller,
Us is less concerned about social commentary,
and more horror-focused
with an ample amount of comedy sprinkled throughout.
The one aspect of these 2 movies have in common,
a credit to Peele's skills as a storyteller,
is that both are difficult to pin to one particular genre.
If there's anything to compare Us to,
it would have to be the Twilight Zone
which Peele is fittingly adapting for CBS All Access.
The only thing missing is Rod Serling's
narration before the opening credits.
- [Rod Voiceover] the Twilight Zone.
(menacing laughs and whispers)
- [Clint] Us center on the Wilsons,
a seemingly normal, middle-class family of 4
on vacation at their summer home near the California coast.
But, like any good Twilight Zone episode,
there's a sense that not everything is as picturesque
as the setting leads you to believe.
Peele effectively creates this ominous tone
through strong character development,
especially with Lupita Nyong'o's Adelaide,
the matriarch of the family
who is haunted buy a traumatic experience
she had as a young girl
while on a similar vacation with her mom and dad.
Flashbacks to Adelaide's childhood
provide valuable insight into why she seems so sad
and often paranoid about the world around her.
Nyong'o embodies the trauma of her character well
as she teeters on the edge of sanity
with every new, frightening development.
(sharp squeal)
(loud clash)
When Adelaide's worst fears come true,
and a terrifying doppleganger family
shows up on their driveway wearing red jumpsuits
and carrying large, gold scissors,
the story gets absolutely bonkers.
But in a good way, and while there are plenty of scares,
Peele balances the shock and awe
with some hilarious moments
courtesy of the dad, Winston Duke's Gabe.
Gabe's happy-go-lucky personality
is the perfect counterpoint to Adelaide's somber demeanor,
and keeps Us from taking itself too seriously.
Since Us is a family affair,
the kids get their time to shine as well.
It's enjoyable to watch them
go up against their respective doppelgangers,
which also gives the young performers
a chance to show off their acting chops,
because the scissor-wielding counterparts
require very different performances.
But Peele wisely manages the time spent with the kids
so they don't feel like an afterthought.
In contrast to another scary flick like A Quiet Place,
these kids don't feel as vulnerable
which lends itself to the Twilight Zone comparison.
This reality is unlike any other,
so it's okay if innocent kids
suddenly turn into confident killers.
(screaming)
In a movie where scissors, bats, and fireplace pokers
are used as weapons,
there's bound to be some blood splatter.
But Peele doesn't unleash all the gore at once,
and opts for a slow build of violence
that gets more graphic over time.
Peele's technique adds suspense and tension,
because you're never quite sure
when the gross-out moments are about to occur.
Sometimes he pulls the camera back,
leaving the slicing and dicing sounds
as our only indicator as to what might be happening,
while during other instances,
Peele keep the camera focused on the mayhem
so you can squirm in your seat.
(eerie music)
- Who are you people?
(screaming)
- It's us.
(chilling music)
- [Clint] Us is a very, very strange film,
but that's okay because it wouldn't be a Jordan Peele joint
if there wasn't a little risk involved.
Peele has proven he's not a one-hit-wonder
with his truly terrifying, poignant look
at 1 American family that goes through hell
at the hands of maniacal dopplegangers.
The strangeness of the narrative stays grounded
with excellent character development,
especially with Lupita Nyong'o's Adelaide,
Winston Duke's Gabe adds some much-needed humor
to lighten the tense and bloody mood,
and the kids also have plenty to contribute.
The impactful use of music and dazzling cinematography
elevates Us above your average horror thriller.
Peele has created another marvelous
new American horror story.
(tense music)
For more, check out our coverage
of Jordan Peele's twilight Zone reboot,
and our review of Captain Marvel.
And as always, be sure to subscribe
wherever you like to watch IGN.