Let’s rewind the clock back a year. Get Out was gearing up to debut in theaters and was expected to gross $20 – 25 million in its opening weekend. It crushed those expectations by opening with $33.4 million and went on to finish with about $255 million worldwide. Now compared to most critically-acclaimed Hollywood blockbusters that’s relatively low, but the movie had a production budget of $4.5 million dollars. Therefore, the film had a gigantic 630% return on investment, which is more than any other flick that came out in 2017, according to The Wrap. Who would’ve guessed that a small budget horror film by one half of the duo behind the hit comedy central show “Key and Peele,” would be a box office juggernaut?
Fast forward to February 2018 and it’s been announced that the movie has scored an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Now that the film has received some love from the Academy Awards it seems only fitting that we take a look back at Universal Pictures’ popular thriller.
The directorial debut by Jordan Peele focuses on Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a black photographer who takes a trip with his white girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), to meet her parents. At first, he feels there’s an awkward barrier of disconnect because of his race, but he soon realizes that there’s something bigger at play and his life hangs in the balance.
Daniel Kaluuya plays a young guy that’s very relaxed and cool throughout. He simply wants to get through the planned getaway trip by making a good impression on Rose’s parents. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to do so because of the ancestral elephant in the room that divided not only her parents but all of their friends and colleagues that he interacted with. In the first and second act of the film, he adequately shows how uncomfortable those types of situations can be and gives moviegoers of a different race a possible new outlook on interracial relationships. His acting prowess also shines through as the audience is able to see the wheels turning in his head as a devastating realization soon follows. Allison William does an excellent job at playing an endearing and charming girlfriend throughout. Also her ability to flip the script so suddenly helps build suspense and terror towards the end of the film. Lil Rel Howery also deserves much praise as the hilarious best friend/TSA officer, Rod Williams. His relatability and wacky outbursts not only make his character one to root for but also help add much comedic relief that balances out the movie.
Get Out tells a titillating tale of tension that builds by lacing the story with uncertainty, terror, and shades of horror. By also embedding a social commentary within, it goes above and beyond the paint-by-the-numbers horror film. Although some of the twists and turns along the way are predictable, there’s still plenty to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
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