Us

US

Director : Jordan Peele

Year : 2019

Genre : Horror

Rating : ***1/2

Jordan Peele's highly anticipated follow-up to his 2016 horror smash hit 'Get Out' may not have quite the same amount of surprise than it's superior predecessor but the esoterically titled 'Us' nevertheless boasts the same immaculate direction, fine performances, frequently disturbing imagery and rich socio-political undercurrents which made 'Get Out' not only a record breaking box office champion but also an acclaimed Academy Award winner.

Filled with unexpected twists and turns, the plot of 'Us' is as convoluted as it is imaginative. Fresh from their supporting roles in Marvel's 'Black Panther', Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke star as a mother and father haunted and indeed hunted by murderous doppelgangers while on vacation at a Santa Cruz beach resort. 

Having already earned herself an Oscar for her truly astonishing work in Steve McQueen's harrowing 2013 epic '12 Years A Slave', N'Yongo delivers another electrifying performance in the dual role of the terrified Adelaide and her psychotic double Red. Armed with a pair of unnerving symmetrical golden scissors, dressed in a scarlet jump suit and gifted with a truly menacing voice, Nyong’o gives the best performance in a horror film since 'The Babadook's Essie Davis and I truly hope that unlike her antipodean counterpart, the Academy remembers her when it comes to nominations next year. The rest of the cast which also includes Elizabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker and newcomers Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex (wearing a very fetching 'Jaws' shirt) all do great work here and each one is equally terrific in the roles of their respective characters and doppelgangers. However, the film belongs to Lupita Nyong’o and she dominates the proceedings with a forceful and unforgettable power.

Much has already been made of the ambitious narrative structure and plot devices of 'Us' and Peele, who is quickly establishing himself as the new King of Western horror, must be congratulated for taking such wild leaps of imagination for a mainstream release. Very rarely today do filmmakers take these risks, instead resorting to the same tired cliches and conventions that have all but killed the franchise horror picture. However, while these daring gambles should be applauded, I'm not so sure how well they are going to be received by average moviegoers. The poorly attended screening I was at last week was greeted with indignant chuckles and even one or two walkouts from those audibly confused and frustrated by the increasingly bizarre twists 'Us' took. As for myself, I must admit to feeling a little lost at times towards the third act of the movie and while this didn't detract from my overall appreciation of the film, 'Us' is overshadowed by the consistently positive reaction I had to 'Get Out', for my money still the greatest horror movie of this decade so far. 

Nevertheless, despite these noticeable drawbacks, 'Us' is still a highly entertaining, thought-provoking and intensely creepy gem whose themes of race, class, trauma and identity are sure to be the subject of dissection and debate for many years to come by scholars and students alike. It is bold, it is brutal and it is fiercely contemporary. A horror movie for a truly horrifying era.