Get Out Review - Chilling Racial Horror

Comedian-turned-director Ricky Gervais had a crack at directing a few films over the years (special prize if you can name all four of those forgettable comedies).Fortunately, Jordan Peele is going down the same path without tripping over immediately. Get Out ranks highly amongst other films directed by comedians, above Bobcat Goldthwait's also great World's Greatest Dad.

This satire of post-racial America and white liberals sees Daniel Kaluuya play Chris, an African-American man visiting his girlfriend's parents in an eerie white suburb. Cue cringe-inducingly sycophantic conversations about Obama, Jesse Owens and which colours are in fashion. Chris gradually suspects that something is amiss with the black manservants and the over-compensating parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener). 


Peele does an incredible job of racketing up tension with little flourishes of creepiness, like an entire party pausing when Chris leaves the room. As the mystery unfolds, we're given a satisfying and harrowing reveal as to why these middle-class white faun over Chris and other black people. And unlike most horror films which rely on loud bursts in the score to frighten, Get Out uses an ominous score to accentuate every horrific moment.

As for the cast, Kaluuya is a lead worthy of empathy with some subdued yet startling sobbing, and Alison Williams sweet as his girlfriend. Lil Rey Howard adds some levity as Chris' best friend, adamant that sex slavery is involved somewhere down the line. Surprisingly, this is the only comedy present; despite his background, Peele focuses on delivering a unsettling experience. He does so. It's more unsettling than seeing a dwarf eat his own skin.

FOUR STARS my man!