Us (2019)

Directed by Jordan Peele

Written by Jordan Peele

Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker

This new psychological thriller is the newest creation from the great mind of Jordan Peele, who brought us Get Out. Us works on so many levels, and will keep you speculating on the meaning behind everything. Peele gives a nod in many scenes to films that have inspired him, like The Shining-- and like The Shining this film will keep you guessing on the edge of your seat. 

The story follows Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o), her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) and their two kids Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex). The family returns to the beachfront home in Santa Cruz where Adelaide grew up. Being back to her childhood home isn't all great memories for Adelaide, as she went missing when she was a little girl after wandering away from her parents on the boardwalk into a fun house. While trying to relax with her family and their friends the Tyler's (Tim Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss), Adelaide can't help but shake the feeling that something is going to happen. Her worries become a reality when four doppelgängers break into their house in the middle of the night, ready to wreak havoc on the family. 

Wether it was paying homage to movies from the past with a reference from Home Alone or with a brief scene of the family's car driving through the hilly forest to their vacation home, much like the Torrance family in The Shining driving to the hotel-- Peele left us with lots of fun easter eggs to unveil. There is so much speculation to be pondered with the meaning behind this sinister group of doppelgängers harassing this seemingly nice, middle-class family of four. A movie that from the trailer looks like a simple home invasion thriller like The Strangers, is really much more. Maybe Peele is trying to show us how we as a society view foreigners in our own country like invaders in our own home, when they're really no different than us. 

This film left the actors a fantastic opportunity to shine, while playing two versions of themselves. Duke as Gabe is a goofy dad who shows off some mighty comedic chops, unlike his first big role in Black Panther, but as his evil counterpart we see a big, silent monster who stops at nothing to try and harm his adversary. Both the children in this movie do such a good job playing the two roles. Evan Alex's doppelgänger, Pluto, is an animalistic demon who likes to play with fire and Joseph's Umbrae is a creepy version of her own self who can run laps around Usain Bolt. Perhaps the best performance from the movie though is Lupita Nyong'o. As Adelaide she is a worried mother who is suppressing some serious childhood trauma, but as Red she is terrifying. She wields a pair of sharp scissors and wide curious eyes, assisted with a raspy breathy voice that will make your skin crawl. I would be shocked if there wasn't already Oscar gossip for her performance. 

The cinematography and score really add to the element of horror in this film as well. You can tell that Jordan Peele is really flexing his horror movie biceps with Us. Seeing what he will come up with next after his first two big hits, now that will be interesting. 

8/10