Violent animal attacks are all too real. While lots of elements of "Nope" fall squarely into
the realm of science fiction, one plotline shares some similarities
to a real-life horror story. Here's how they line up. Spoilers for "Nope" ahead.
Jordan Peele's latest film, "Nope," is out in theaters and audiences finally
know what the film is actually about. The narrative exemplifies Peele's signature
brand of storytelling, examining themes like the pursuit of fame,
the dark side of exhibition, and wild animals' relationship with humans.
"It's an adventure and a horror spectacle about-- about human nature."
Untameable beasts play a significant role in the narrative in more ways than one.
Siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood are struggling to maintain their father's horse training business
after his mysterious death, but that's the least of their problems.
Thanks to their neighbor — former child actor and current theme park owner Ricky "Jupe"
Park — their property has inadvertently become home base for a flying extraterrestrial predator.
Flashbacks show that Jupe's fascination with the wild creature is no coincidence. As a child,
he starred on a sitcom called "Gordy's Home," which starred a live chimpanzee alongside a group
of human actors. One fateful day, the primate snapped and brutally mauled several actors,
including Jupe's young co-star Mary Jo Elliot, who miraculously survived despite sustaining
severe injuries. Though viewers only see the incident from Jupe's limited perspective,
what we are shown is enough to imagine the horror of what's happened.
This section of the plot is particularly alarming and specific, so it makes sense that
Gordy's violent outburst has some clear parallels to a devastating true story.
New York Magazine reports that in 1995, Sandra and Jerome Herold paid
a Missouri-based breeder $50,000 in exchange for Travis the chimpanzee,
raising him from infancy. Travis developed human qualities under their care. He got dressed every
day, brushed his teeth, enjoyed ice cream and wine, and even slept in bed with the couple.
Similar to Gordy in "Nope," Travis was a bit of a celebrity. He was known for appearing in Old
Navy ads and local businesses proudly displayed photographs of him, according to the Stamford
Advocate. Much like Gordy, Travis existed in a world where he was the center of attention.
However, there were warning signs that Travis might not be the obedient pet he seemed to be.
The Stamford Advocate also reports that the chimpanzee pulled a woman's arm through the
opened window of a parked car in 1996, biting her hard enough to draw blood. In 2003, he jumped
out of the Herolds' car at an intersection, evading police and his owners for two hours.
At that time, no charges were pressed, according to New York magazine.
A recurring motif in "Nope" is the dedication and respect it takes to develop a connection with a
wild animal. Assuming obedience is a recipe for disaster, a mistake Jupe makes at the cost of his
life. In Travis' case, his perceived domestication likewise did nothing to stop the inevitable.
In February 2009, Charla Nash, a friend of Sandra Herold,
arrived to help care for Travis, who was 14 years old and 200 pounds at the time.
He brutally attacked her before being shot and killed by the police, the New
York Times reported. Charla suffered extreme and extensive injuries to her face and hands.
"It's a horrible thing. But I'm not a horrible person and he wasn't a horrible chimp."
Several months into her recovery, Charla appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to talk about the
traumatic experience. For most of the interview, Charla's face was shielded by a veiled hat,
very similar to the head covering we see an adult Mary Jo wearing in "Nope"
when she attends Jupe's alien demonstration all those years after the "Gordy's Home" incident.
Although it hasn't been officially confirmed that the Gordy storyline
in "Nope" was directly inspired by Charla Nash's survival story, some parallels are clearly there.
Of course, unlike Mary Jo, who suffered another tragic fate, Nash's condition has only improved
over the years. She received a successful face transplant in 2011 and, according to
ABC 7, has become an advocate for stricter legislation regarding the sale of exotic animals.
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