Review: "Get Out"

Ever wondered what the result would be if say, Wes Craven opted to direct a film half Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and half The Stepford Wives? I imagine not but, if you somehow did, the final product probably would've looked something a whole lot like Get Out, the incredible directorial debut of actor/comedian/writer Jordan Peele (of TV's Key & Peele).

What Peele has done in Get Out is something truly remarkable. Unlike the bulk of horror comedies, which tend to veer heavily on the campy and over-the-top, Peele's picture is a pitch-perfect mix of scenes laugh-out-loud hilarious and moments downright terrifying. This ain't a cheesefest that spends its time constantly winking at its audience.

The film opens with couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) - he's black, she's white - taking a road trip from the city out into the suburbs for that grueling, time-honored tradition of him meeting her parents. Dean (Bradley Whitford) and Missy (Catherine Keener) seem perfectly nice and normal at first, if perhaps a tad ill-at-ease about their daughter's interracial romance, but Chris soon finds himself a bit perplexed by his surroundings. There's the family's maid (the scene-stealing Betty Gabriel) and groundskeeper (Marcus Henderson), both African-American and both acting like some sort of batshit robots. Then, there's the oddball guests who visit for a grand party at the family estate, including another person of color (Keith Stanfield) who also ain't acting right. Most concerning is the terrifying dreams Chris has been having...or are they really dreams?

To go any further into the plotting of this ingenuous film would be a travesty - this is not one to be spoiled. Let's just say there was of course twists and turns but furthermore, Peele does a sensational job here anticipating what his audience expects around the corner in terms of twists...only to turn that on its head and deliver genuine shockers.

Kaluuya is a real find and a natural leading man. He's surrounded by a dynamite supporting cast, one which also includes the uproariously funny Lil Rel Howery as Chris' best friend who, even hours away in the city, suspects something is up in a bad way in the suburbs. Get Out is frontloaded with lots of laughter out of the starting gates but by the hour point of this thing, you'll be hanging off the edge of your seat.

Get Out marks the first truly great film of 2017.

A-