By: Christoph Russi ’17

I’m not a big fan of watching horror movies in theaters nowadays. Not that I don’t enjoy getting scared once in awhile, but it seems to me that most American horror films that’ve come out recently have had very little substance beyond cheap pop-up scary faces and the same predictable tropes that we’ve all gotten used to. A truly scary movie can’t be scary just for the sake of marketing the movie as a horror film. The film has to be scary because it’s essential to the audience’s understanding of the story that they feel afraid, anxious or disturbed. Renowned comedian Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out,” is an archetype of a movie that scares its audience for the sake of executing on a deeper meaning.
“Get Out” is an intelligent investigation into the more clandestine elements of modern racial narrow-mindedness in America. The film follows a young black man named Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes on a weekend trip to meet his white girlfriend Rose’s parents for the first time at their family estate. As soon as her parents see that Chris is black, things take an uncanny turn. It’s freaky, it gets under your skin and it’s filled with thoughtful commentary. It’s unique to see a horror film made with the intent of reflecting upon a social evil that doesn’t just devolve into an axe-murder bloodbath filled with black and white thinking.
Being the brainchild of a comedy mastermind, “Get Out” is thick with elements of dark comedy, and it’s in the satirical edge of the script that Peele really excels. Most of his work has been concentrated in shorts and skits, but his talent for slowly putting together a joke for the perfect punchline translates well to a feature-length piece. I really enjoyed “Get Out,” and even if you’re sick of hearing about social issues, this film is hard not to recommend.