This weekend some friends and I went to see the movie “Us.” I have been dying to see it since the trailer came out, especially after the success of the screenwriter and director Jordan Peele’s other movie “Get Out.” I have seen a lot of horror in and out of the movie theater, but there’s not one single film I would compare to “Us,” and here’s why.
*SPOILERS FOR “US” AHEAD*
- The Music
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In a lot of horror movies, I think that the scary music is over done. It’s played in parts that wouldn’t even be scary without the music, or just way too often. Peele, however, nailed it with the music placement in this movie. Every time that a terrifying song was played it enhanced an already incredible and terrifying scene. The music itself was not carrying the entire weight of keeping us on the edge of our seats, but was the extra piece that took us from being on the edge of our seats to feeling like we were fully immersed in the moment. He even mixed it up with some more light hearted numbers that really worked to fully develop the story, and remind us how real this family is.
- The Symbolism
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Symbolism was huge in the movie “Us” and I love that there was so much that I didn’t pick up on, or really consider, until I read more about the movie. For example at the start the little girl goes into a large mirror maze with a sign saying “find yourself” and quite literally finds herself. The symbolism breaks down into even subtler clips, like a real spider crawling out from a larger plastic spider early in the movie. These are just two random examples, but while watching the movie I thought it was amazing how so much thought went into every single scene, and when I left and began to read more about it, it even goes beyond what I had even thought. Often horror movies include some foreshadowing and symbolism, but I don’t think any compare to the level in this movie. It’s to the extent that watching the movie the second time must be even more interesting because you can pick up on the subtleties of the symbolism you might have missed previously.
- Just Enough Answers
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The largest beef I have with horror movies is the lack of answers. So often I’m left disappointed by a storyline because the whole time I wait for an explanation that never comes. Often it seems horror movies just use scary concepts and ideas for shock value. Characters are evil, because they are just evil and it doesn’t go any deeper than that. What I really love about “Us” is it digs way past this surface level explanation. We get a really in depth understanding of the antagonist and it makes the story so much richer. Of course we’re always going to be left with some questions, but that opens up the table for discussion and theories. Peele seems to have found the perfect balance to have a well developed story but still leave us wondering.
- The Story
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I think this builds off my last point, but “Us” really stands out just from the storyline in general. It’s well rounded, the characters are relatable and the concept is completely unique and original. There is comedic relief but it’s not cheesy or overdone. Like many horror movies I never knew what was going to happen next and I was on edge for the entire film. The difference, however, was very often when I watch scary movies they depend on the shock value to carry the story, but in “Us” the story really carries the movie.
- The Cast
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Another incredible thing about the movie “Us” is the cast. So many of the actors and actresses had to play two versions of themselves, and they were all pulled off so distinctly and perfectly. As the credits rolled and we were reminded they played both characters, I was almost surprised. Obviously they had to have played both characters if the two looked exactly the same. However, the characters felt so distinct as I watched, I practically forgot. I think most notably, Lupita Nyong’o did an incredible job with her two characters. She played both the protagonist and antagonist, and carried a large part of the movie. Her two characters probably had the most depth and importance as well, and she pulled it off brilliantly. I’m not saying horror movies in general lack good actors and actresses, but I do believe this cast really stands out.
Overall, “Us” goes down for me as one of the best horror films I’ve ever seen, if not the best. I can’t wait to see what Jordan Peele has in store for us next.