Movie Review: Get Out (2017)

Summary: A young African-American man visits his Caucasian girlfriend’s mysterious family estate.

Pros:

Cast and Characters. This movie has it’s special group of people and legit all of them were interesting people and I think the actors did a great job. I can only go into so much detail without spoiling the characters in the film.

• Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington. First of all, I think he is so good looking. I thought he looked good in Sicario but anyways, he’s really good here. His character is into photography and he seems to be a chill dude. He’s a bit nervous to be meeting his girlfriend’s parents, especially in knowing that her family is white. As he in their world, he looks a bit uncomfortable but is really good at keeping it together. But he begins to feel like he’s losing it and it’s so great. I think Daniel does such a great job at maintaining a nice young man persona (which he is) as well as being uncomfortable with being around white people. The way he is during the get together, he is trying to be a team player but things are weirdly happening. He reacts the way I know I would. I also appreciate his strength in the later scenes.

• Allison Williams as Rose Armitage. Rose is the “girl next door” girlfriend. It was interesting how she was able to stand up to the police officer who questioned Chris (even though he was driving), definitely privilege there. She has a big smile, seems really sweet and doesn’t seem to be like her weird family at all. Allison Williams works here, she has the big smile that is inviting and welcoming, and as the film progresses we get to see more and she’s great in the role.

• Catherine Keener as Missy Armitage. She is Rose’s mother, a Psychiatrist, tries to help Chris quit smoking using hypnosis (something he is not interested in), but she seems to be diagnosing him every time they talk. It’s weird. They have an interesting run in at night. I like Catherine Keener, she has an interesting voice and she works well here, she’s very unsettling in a therapy kind of way.

• Bradley Whitford as Dean. First of all, this guy looks so weird with facial hair, I didn’t realize who he was until today. Anyway, he’s that guy who feels the need to explain that “I would have voted for Obama for a third term”, or finds a way to try to placate Chris’s uncomfortableness. Especially in reference to Walter and Georgina. He’s that guy who a black person would roll their eyes at because they’re trying so hard. He’s also a brain surgeon. He wasn’t as bad as “unsettling” as the mother, but he was up there. I think Bradley Whitford (who I also like most times) plays the part well, the lame dad, who thinks he’s hip but it’s more annoying than anything.

• Caleb Landry Jones as Jeremy Armitage. I think he was the weirdest. He’s Rose’s younger brother and he obviously makes Chris uncomfortable due to his assumptions, especially about him being good in and liking sports (which Chris is meh towards), or the fact that he has a great physique for MMA. He even tries to get Chris to do some moves with him (so weird). I think he was the most unsettling of them all considering how he would stand in the background, or corners just looming over everyone, not to mention, he wouldn’t do something to his hair and Caleb has really lovely red hair lol. I think Caleb was perfect in this role because he is totally weird.

• Marcus Henderson as Walter. He is the groundskeeper of the Armitage estate. Chris sees him and Dean tries to explain that Walter helped out when his parents and that they didn’t want to let him go (same with Georgina). He is really quiet, stares oddly and when Chris goes to introduce himself, Walter talks like he’s from another time period. He also does that creepy run (you see it in the trailer). Dude is so creepy. I think Marcus Henderson plays that really well too, to be able to maintain weirdness about the character.

• Betty Gabriel as Georgina. I only saw her in that one movie that I will not name as I hated it but she was one of the few things I liked about that movie. She’s so pretty to me but Georgina is the Armitage’s maid and she pops up out of nowhere so many times (the only time I actually jumped was because of her). She also seems to have a fascination with herself in the mirror and she interacts with Chris a bit and every time she does it’s so weird. Good job Betty, you are officially scary lol.

• LilRel Howery as Rod Williams. He is Chris’s best friend, the funny one. He’s the one who tells Chris not to go to the country with those white people (lol) and he’s the one who solves a lot of mystery on his own. TS MUTHAF**** A lol. I liked this dude. Everyone needs to have a friend like him.

• Lakeith Stanfield as Andre “Logan” King. I think Lakeith is a great actor, I first saw him in Short Term 12 and he was pretty great here too. We see two versions of him. That’s all I’ll say. He does a great job too.

The Direction. There are so many good shots in this film. I can’t even, especially in the last act of the film. All of the scenes that are in Chris’s head, or flashbacks to his childhood, they’re all handled so well. Jordan Peele knew what he was doing, I was pleasantly surprised. The feeling of claustrophobia presented in a lot of scenes, or unease, or uncomfortably, it all depends on the choices made by the director. Two thumbs up.

The Story. On the surface, this story is about an interracial couple going to the white family’s estate. It travels through how uncomfortable Chris feels in this situation even if he loves his girlfriend. However, there is something sinister going on and I kind of figured something along the lines of what was going on, but it ended up being a step further than what I thought. It’s scary and honestly something that in a weird way could be considered funny but it’s scary for any black person to think about happening to them.

The Imagery. While the thrill factor is there, the imagery used in the film helps boost those moments. I don’t want to go into it too much because it gives things away but the things shown really help put certain things happening into perspective.

The Horror/Thriller Factor. I wouldn’t necessarily say this movie is a horror film but more of a psychological thriller. There are few jump scares but I only really got scared once. I don’t think it’s really scary but more haunting. The scene between Chris and Missy in her office, that’s the first really unsettling scene because it’s weird. Then when Chris is meeting all of the white neighbors another time because the camera is shifting between all of the people and it’s like overwhelming for Chris and for the viewers. Then of course the entire third act… again, I wasn’t scared but more like O.O. It’s so great.

The Message. This movie is not out to offend anyone, but I’m sure it’ll make a lot of people upset. It’s just exploring the fear that black people have when being a white man’s world, which is legit. It’s extreme but that’s the point. The people in this film aren’t Neo-nazi people, or whatever, but are nice people, with nice lives etc. but they represent those people who make life uncomfortable for black people while also admiring the best parts of that person. It addresses many levels of racism.

Cons:

The ending. This is really my only con and it doesn’t knock the movie down any bit for me. I think the ending is solid but it leaves so many questions unanswered. It can be argued that that’s the point, which is fine, sometimes, but I want more answers. Why would they make sure it was actually over before doing what they did? What about the other people in the wealthy neighborhood? I NEED TO KNOW!

Overall, I love Get Out and it was so surprising to me. I figured it was going to be good from the beginning but it really surprised me with how good it was. Jordan Peele created a film where the black man is not the villain, he is the victim but he is an active victim. He has created a film where it shows the fears that black people feel when surrounded by white people, as well as addressing the microagressions directed towards black people. It’s really an interesting film. The direction was great, the film looked nice and clean while including a lot of imagery that helps boost the way the film can be viewed as well as the story. It’s a very intriguing and unique story. The actors were well cast in their roles, they were fully realized. I love this film.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Have you seen Get Out? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to like and follow this blog!

P.S. Jordan Peele is married to a white woman… is he crying for help? Do you need help Jordan? lol (I’m just kidding).