US

Jordan Peele’s “US” is the second film he has directed and both of his films are part of a new film movement in cinema. Jordan Peele is creating a new genre of horror film and there are multiple traits that show this in both “Get Out” and “Us”. This new genre horror is one that is derived from the racism and discrimination of black people in America. Jordan Peele also uses other elements of horror and suspense to add to the feel of this film that I will go into. This film is also similar to the most previous film I blogged about, “Shutter Island”, in a few ways that I will discuss.

The first thing that is seen in both “Get Out” and “US” that I would like to discuss is the main characters’ horrified face with their mouth and eyes wide open while tears are pouring out of their eyes. This is seen in “Get Out” when Daniel is put into the quiet place and is petrified with fear as tears pour out his wide-open eyes. This same face is seen in Adelaide when we see her enter the house of mirrors as a little girl and encounter her clone. Both have a deeper meaning, in “Get Out” Daniel’s face represents the horror of the racism in America and the oppression of black people. In “US”, I believe this face represents the horror of the marginalization, and the people in red rising up represent the lower, mistreated classes rising up. Both faces are making a statement and I expect to see the same face in Jordan Peele’s next film. Also, having both the main characters be African American in both his films Jordan Peele is without making a statement about who is being terrorized in the United States today.

The next trait I would like to discuss is the portrayal of white people in Jordan Peele’s films. In “Get Out”, nearly every white person is an undeniable evil, body-snatching, racist and you want to see them die. In “US” the white characters aren’t necessarily evil, but you don’t really mind seeing them die. For example, the white family that Wilson’s are friends with aren’t exactly good people. The two twins are selfish brats and the adults aren’t much better they are very snobby, so seeing them die isn’t exactly sad.

The other elements of horror and suspense he uses are why his movies are so great. His use of mise en scene and the score of the film. In the movie, all the clones are dressed in the same red jumpsuit and wielding golden scissors. While also being a symbol for the lower class rising up and wreaking havoc on the wealthy, it’s just straight-up horrifying. The score during the scenes with the clones is what makes the movie so horrifying because it is in tone with their scary spastic movements. This is best shown in the final fight scene between Adelaide and her shadow where when she moves suddenly the music abruptly plays.

Lastly, the reason that I found this movie slightly similar to “Shutter Island” is because of the ending. The entire movie of “Shutter Island” you are meant to believe Teddie is Teddie and Andrew is man who is responsible for Teddie’s wife’s death, when in reality Teddie is actually Andrew. This is similar to the “US” ending because the entire film you are led to believe Adelaide is Adelaide and she is being terrorized by her clone, but the ending reveals just the opposite. Doing this in a movie can be confusing, but i felt in both these instances the directors pulled it off well. The only difference is that “Shutter Island” leaves the idea of Andrew being Teddie up to the interpretation of the viewer, which I like more. I prefer the ambiguity to the actual answer.