REVIEW | Us (2019)

Don’t like sleeping? Well, step right in.

Jordan Peele doesn’t give a damn whether you believe in ghosts or not.

A family of four takes a trip to their suburban holiday home for a getaway filled with beaches, boats, and amusement park thrills by the coast. But not long after that, mysterious figures wearing red jumpsuits slowly begin to appear all around the small town. And their holiday starts descending into chaos when they discover the strange intruders look exactly like them.

*Minor spoilers for Us ahead*

Holy sh*t…
Jordan Peele is one mental, messed-up, meta-maniac moviemaker. And he’s also written, directed, and produced a masterpiece.

Seriously — the next best thing to watch from Us would be a theatres-worth of audience reactions, cause this film’s made to keep you up at night. And this is coming from someone that hardly ever gets scared, gasping frequently like an old lady, squirming and sinking in his seat, and freezing with water in my mouth.

It’s less of an education, and more of an experience that will follow you home, make you question reality, and leave you deeply paranoid about the off-chance you bump into your body double.

(*theatrical trauma intensifies).

Despite the metaphorical subject matter that anchors the film with doppelgängers, duality, and [literally] struggling with one’s self. The diabolical brilliance of Us actually comes from its subtle simplicity and substantial story — brought to life almost like a Goosebumps novel on steroids.

Impressively cohesive, incredibly self-contained, and subliminally superb, This is a brutal buffet that leaves an unsettling aftertaste.

Jordan Peele has created a horrifying idea behind a nightmare-induced plot, prepared familiar sequences that frames fright in a new light, and painted them with scenes that are simple yet skin-crawlingly scary.

All without needing to address social issues or resting on touchy themes (but don’t worry, it’s still profoundly provocative without it even trying).

And with all that mental massacre filling the air you breathe, it doesn’t take long for you to agree and realise that this is where over-the-top acting is wholly welcome.

And boy, does it have the smile of an unnerving Cheshire Cat.

Without opening barrels of blood and guts, or the use of overnight makeup (looking at you, leather slashers). Us is infinitely intensified with fear by the polarising and petrifying performances of its cast — and that’s even before any sharp objects come on screen.

So, while this movie is properly looking right through your eyes and staring your soul down. There’s also the equally eerie soundtrack that looms over the sinister screenplay to amplify the immersion and pull you into every dire moment and dread-filled scenes.

Grabbing you by your nerves to strum and strike them as it pleases.

This film attacks the senses after it’s gone for the head. Playing with its food before taking the kill, and making sure to leave a lasting impression on its v̶i̶c̶t̶i̶m̶s̶ viewers.

In all honesty — Us will be among the most original movie you’ll see for a while. It’s an instant classic that it takes cues from classics, and pays homage to those that have come before it within the genre.

All while elevating it to new heights for the platform and from potential.
Like an offering to the people, that’s worthy of the genuine horror Gods.

And to top it all off (and without spoiling anything) —
with most movies in-and-out of the horror-thriller playground usually being remembered for just a scene or two. Us manages to pull off a remarkable hattrick of polishing and preserving its rewatch value from start to finish with its strong conclusion.

Which is quite unthinkable, considering most instances would flip the entire movie experience with a Keyser Söze card or “I see dead people” reveal.

With that said, there is no doubt that Us is an amazing piece of cinema that cuts straight and deep into your core. Even though it may not be the horror fest that most would prefer to have — it’s only fantastically phenomenal specifically because of its unforgiving identity.

Sure, you have your seen-one-seen-all slasher flicks (where the only difference is whether it’s a machete or a chainsaw), your supernatural spookfest possession pictures.

This is just simply unlike anything on the cinematic terror library.

And whether you walk away loving or hating it, you definitely won’t be able to handle Us without some lingering aftereffects.