Get Out

Only time will tell if “Get Out” becomes a horror classic. I know it will be for me. Not only for the way it’s written, shot and directed, but also for the way that it manages to be insightful, clever, funny, and uniquely frightening.

Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) is traveling with his white girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to meet her family: her father Dean (Bradley Whitford), her mom Missy (Catherine Keener) and her brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones) Even when the family assures him that they don’t have a problem with the color of his skin, Chris gets an itchy feeling that there’s something not quite right.

“Get Out” is scary in a different way than you're used to. The atmosphere created always hints at something being out of place, but you'll be unable to figure out exactly what's happening until it's too late. In the meantime, you’re filled with this constant sense of unease. Even if you were in the same spot as Chris, you probably wouldn’t turn away, but there’s just something… not right about this situation. It’s that perfect mix of knowing what you’re in for (the opening scene, shot all in one take, makes it clear that something bad is going to happen) but of not being too obvious.

The film has it’s own unique take on horror and is also very funny. Lil Rel Howery as Chris’ best friend and confidante Rod steals the show. He is THAT friend, the one that’s seen the horror movies, thinks of the worst-case scenario and (hilariously) jumps to conclusions in an attempt to help out our hero. You never know if you want Chris to follow his advice, or if the guy’s just paranoid. You laugh at what he's got to say, but the further in you get, the more it seems to make sense...

“Get Out” is a delight. Once you learn what characters are about, you go back and understand completely their actions earlier in the film. It all seems that much funnier and scarier one you’ve seen the killer ending. Watching it multiple times, I’ve gotten an even deeper appreciation for the score and the way the film is shot. It's a terrific horror comedy that knows how to get the different tones right. It plays with you by having characters do perfectly normal things and shooting them in a way that makes it seem sinister, just to throw you off and keep you guessing. In a different scenario it would feel cheap or frustrating, but when you look at the whole picture, it feels expertly placed.

“Get Out” has many moments of brilliance. For a directorial debut, it’s rather spectacular. It has unconventional scares, big laughs throughout, and an intelligent story. This one's got lasting power, so don't miss out. (Theatrical version on the big screen, March 28, 2017)