Rating: 7.5/10
Genre: Thriller
Related Titles: Get Out, Happy Death Day, Curve
By Leanne Harragan
US is Jordan Peele's second film and following the huge success of Get Out is almost impossible. This film makes a fantastic effort to follow but being shrouded in metaphor and social commentary, it's perhaps not the most easy film for all audiences to access. It's potentially just a little bit too out there.
There are some great jokes throughout, Peele proves yet again that his comedic abilities come with ease. It's got some good in your faces jokes, plenty of cringe dad jokes but some subtle jokes thrown in, in the background. One of my personal favourites was the yacht being name 'Byachtch' a simple almost pointless joke as it was never referenced by still hilarious.
This film is everything that a thriller/horror should be. It creates an uneasy tension and feeling that can easily be taken much further than in the cinema. Peele's unnerving idea paired with everyone's own secret fears takes the idea that 'we are our own worst enemies' to a whole new level. While it's all a bit far-fetched, the film is creepy, thrilling and incredible unnerving when you look at the concept as a whole. Shot in LA, this film contains plenty of creepy settings including a boardwalk fun-house and lots of dark and unnerving places.
The true fear in US comes from an 'other' being that each person accordingly has. This theory has been a part of urban legend and myth for a longtime, with the phrase 'you're your own worst enemy' really coming to life in US. There is also plenty of social commentary with one of the biggest I picked up on being the divide in social classes, between those that are top of the social chain and those stuck at the bottom. Throughout the film, bible references and quotes are also used talking about disaster and false idols. 'Hands Across America' also formed quite an important part of this film and it's definitely a commentary about a social coming together of people from all walks of life that would definitely be almost impossible but feared. Beyond these references, I'm certain there are plenty that of references and meaning that went over my head and each viewer will probably take this film differently by putting their own spin on it.
The main character Adelaide is portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o, her performances as Adelaide and 'tethered'/other self is honestly incredible. I've never seen a performance quite as intense as this. Nyong'o is terrifying and extremely unnerving. co-cast played by Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex are all just as impressive playing both themselves and their 'tethered'/other selves too. The combination of the four main players all being as impressive as this, help to carry the film.
US has an interesting concept carrying the film, it's got amazing performances and has an incredible score that only creates more and more tension. Despite it's cryptic nature, it's very strange but perfectly enjoyable.
Rating: 6.5/10
By Rebecca Mannick
I was very apprehensive about reviewing US purely because I'm still not sure of how I feel about this piece of work. I'm not sure if it was a masterpiece or a just bit weird with horror elements. Jordan Peele wrote and directed US and it comes after the success of 'Get Out', again a psychological movie with a lot of underlying meaning.
The film starts out like any other horror film, a family driving to a different location - the two parents in the front with the two kids in the back usually one girl and one boy. The mother Adelaide had previously been on vacation to Santa Cruz when she was a child - where she had strayed from her parents and had been stunned in a mirror maze as she met her doppelgänger. Therefore she has her reservations about going to their holiday home near the boardwalk where this had happened. Things get weird when identicals of the family turn up at their holiday home with the intension of killing them. These people call themselves 'the Tethered'.
The best part of this movie was by far the acting, especially from leading lady Lupita Wyong'o. The way in which she plays both Adelaide and her tethered version 'Red' was amazing. There was so many aspects to her character and explored so many emotional directions that you cannot really fault her performance. Same goes to all of those in the Wilson family, especially Winston Duke who played Gabe Wilson.
For me, the end was super trippy and I'm not entirely sure if I actually 'got it' - like what was the overall meaning - I'm still not sure. I'm also sure that the average cinema go-er probably didn't get it either. Nevertheless I appreciated its complexity and that Peele is challenging his audience to think for themselves. Peele has definitely cemented himself into movie history with both writing and directing - and I'm for sure excited to see what else he has in store.
The best part of this movie was by far the acting, especially from leading lady Lupita Wyong'o. The way in which she plays both Adelaide and her tethered version 'Red' was amazing. There was so many aspects to her character and explored so many emotional directions that you cannot really fault her performance. Same goes to all of those in the Wilson family, especially Winston Duke who played Gabe Wilson.
For me, the end was super trippy and I'm not entirely sure if I actually 'got it' - like what was the overall meaning - I'm still not sure. I'm also sure that the average cinema go-er probably didn't get it either. Nevertheless I appreciated its complexity and that Peele is challenging his audience to think for themselves. Peele has definitely cemented himself into movie history with both writing and directing - and I'm for sure excited to see what else he has in store.
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