Get Out

By: John Delia

Disturbing and provocative the movie Get Out turns up the volume on suspense and terror.  One of the better scary films in a long time, the movie challenges you from the very start as to the motives of a family gathering with a Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner impression that turns sour.  If you like fright films like The Visit this is your cup of tea.

Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a college aged black man, and Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), a white woman, are madly in love. They are living together in a one bedroom flat.  It has been several months since their romance has started heating up and Rose sets up a weekend to meet her parents. When Chris asks if she has told them that he is black, she counters in the negative assuring him that they will welcome him with open arms.

Arriving at the Armitage mansion, Chris gets introduced to her parents Dr. Missy (Catherine Keener), a psychiatrist, and Dr. Dean Armitage (Bradley Whitford), a surgeon. They welcome him with hugs.  Chris is delighted, but a little doubting when he meets Rose’s brother Jeremy Armitage (Caleb Landry Jones) who gets a little physical showing him his martial arts ability.  After getting settled in, things start to happen quickly as the Armitages have invited a throng of guests to meet their daughter’s newest beau.

The film goes on from there following the first fifteen minutes as a set up that leads up to a very suspense filled hour and twenty minutes.  Director and writer Jordan Peele turns up the heat creating a suspicion with interactions between the guests and the hired help.  He chooses the perfect music and settings having things pop up unexpectedly, but quickly adds some comedy for relief.  It’s a very good ploy to create tension throughout and the film becomes a perfect storm of terror.

The performance by Daniel Kaluuya (Sicario) shows he has what it takes to be a welcoming showman.  He handles his character with assurance, giving a cool performance as Chris the unsuspecting boyfriend that finds himself in a quandary as to what is taking place at the Armitage Estate. As the film progresses, he starts to realize that things aren’t what they seem to be and his attitude and demeanor starts to change radically.

Get Out has been rated R by the MPAA for violence, bloody images and language including sexual references.  There are some scenes where things jump out of nowhere and others that are very gory and brutal.  Not for the squeamish or faint of heart.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. (B)