‘Us’ is filled with horror-movie jump-scares a dark, ambitious, frightening thriller

After the surprise success of the comedy/horror blockbuster “Get Out,” Jordan Peele, writes, directs and produces his second film, “Us.” It’s not much like his debut film, which relied more on suspense, while much of the violence was implied. Here, Peele is not afraid to bring out the sharp metal objects and clearly knows how to use them.

It’s a terrifying home invasion thriller with horror-movie jump-scares, monster-walks that corner victims into creepy “dungeons.” It’s a real blood fest filled with lots of stabbing and slashing.  Thankfully, no dental instruments were used, yikes! Unfortunately, only ten minutes into the flick, we were already reminded of that GEICO commercial saying people in horror movies make poor decisions; it’s what they do, ugh.

Then, towards the end, there were some long-winded narrations and a whiplash plot twist leaving the audience asking, “What the heck just happened?” We started trying to piece together how that added up and were tempted to ask fellow movie-goers in the theater what they thought it all meant. We wondered, did we miss something or did Peele leave the story purposely unclear. Either way, there was much to think about and discuss.

Sure, there was lots of violence, terror and maiming, but there was eventually some point and purpose to this madness. We’re not ready to label this an intelligent storyline, but there were numerous clues throughout the movie that added up to something of genuine interest. When was the last time a slasher-flick did that?

Lupita Nyong’o stars as Adelaide Wilson, loving wife of Gabe (Winston Duke) and busy mother of children Zora and Jason. The Wilson’s take a family vacation to Santa Cruz to spend time with their friends, the Tyler’s. On a day at the beach, Jason temporarily wanders off, just as Adelaide once did as a child, causing her lasting emotional trauma.

It’s not mentioned, but we noticed Adelaide wears a Michael Jackson “Thriller” T-shirt when traumatized at the boardwalk amusement park and Jason wears a “Jaws” T-shirt when wandering off at the beach. That night, Jason runs into the house announcing, “There’s a family in our driveway.” They are all shocked to discover the intruders look just like them, only with grotesque features. Jason declares, “It’s us!”

Adelaide asks, “What should we do, set some Home Alone traps?” Jason asks, “What’s Home Alone?” The doppelgangers are dressed in red jumpsuits and each carries a pair of gold scissors. When they break into the Wilsons’ home, it is not immediately clear what they want, but the answer comes soon enough and the horror begins.

The movie begins by stating there are thousands of miles of tunnels in the U.S. from subways, utilities, mines and some have no purpose at all. Meanwhile, a weirdo carries a sign, “Jeremiah 11:11” (Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.) Yikes, but good to know.

Peele explains, “We all have a shadow, a dark side. We are our own worst enemy, not just as individuals, but more importantly as a group, family, society, country, world. Tunnels have a purpose, they house the Tethered, AKA those shadows. Gold scissors are a whole made up of two parts between the mundane and the absolutely terrifying.”

“Us” is 116 minutes and rated R for violence, terror, and language. This is a very dark, ambitious and frightening movie about an American family terrorized by “themselves.” The Michael Abels driving musical score carries a creepy choral chant that heightens the suspense. The acting is superb, especially from Nyong’o, who carries this feature.

Surprisingly, Peele continues to inject his dry humor. When Adelaide reveals her deepest darkest secret to Gabe, “I was in a Hall of Mirrors and saw somebody that looked exactly like me,” Gabe does his best to keep a straight face. When FDR expressed we have nothing to fear but fear itself, he didn’t know we have met the enemy and the enemy is “Us.”

Ron’s Rating: B+
Leigh’s Rating: C+

 




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