Peele's Horror Film Is Scaring The Hell Out Of 'Us'

By Darlene Donloe

Jordan Peele wants to scare the hell out of Us and he’s doing a good job. The trailer for Us, opening today nationwide is about as creepy a horror film as you can get.

But wait. There’s more.  If you think the trailer is spine-chilling, hold on to your hat because sh*t just got real.

Once again Peele, whose movie Get Out was a 2017 runaway hit, has crafted a story that is unique, thought-provoking, radical, in-your-face, comical and deliriously juicy.

When the movie starts - the opening crawl on the screen talks about the miles and miles of abandoned underground tunnels, roads, and railroads that are below the city streets and how no one really knows why. This is Peele's social commentary about the underclass and the forgotten people who have become invisible. 

The psychological drama is about Adelaide Wilson, her husband and their two kids (a son and a daughter), who return to the beachfront home where she grew up as a child. Haunted by a traumatic, unexplainable experience from the past, and compounded by a number of eerie coincidences, Adelaide grows increasingly concerned that something bad is going to happen. After spending a tense day at the beach with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon), Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. Her worst fears soon become a reality when four strangers show up at the home forcing the Wilsons to fight for their lives. When the masks come off, the family is horrified to learn that each attacker takes the appearance of one of them.

Lupita Nyong'o, Evan Alex and Shahadi Wright Joseph

After spending a tense beach day with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon), Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home in northern California. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway. It’s one of the more terrifying moments in the film.

Lupita Nyong'o

It’s an interesting concept when someone is confronted with themselves. Yes, we all look in a mirror and see the image reflected back. But it’s an all-new ball game when there is a physical doppelganger sitting opposite you that looks more like you than any identical twin ever could. Add in the fact that the ‘you’ you’re looking at wants to harm you – and you’ve got a serious situation on your hands.

Just like a standard horror film, Us has plenty of scary music. It has loads of “don’t go in there” moments, “that doesn’t make any sense” moments and even more “the person is behind you” moments that keep the audience on their toes.

Lupita Nyong'o 

The first half of the film is better than the second, probably because that’s when everything is set up.  There is an interesting twist at the end – so watch closely.  

Peele has crafted a wonderful, straightforward horror film that lends itself to a sequel. This film will surely have all of ‘Us’ keeping the lights on at night.

Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong'o and Evan Alex

Us (Universal Pictures) is written and directed by Jordan Peele, and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Anna Diop, Noelle Sheldon, Cali Sheldon, Kara Hayward, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Madison Curry, and Nathan Harrington.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Us gets an O (oh, yeah).

Rating: R (for violence/terror, and language).