The movie didn't have the intended effect for me because I've been around people like that and always found them extremely unpleasant.
1
The plot for this film has been done a hundred times, both in movies and television. What sets it apart is how it balances on the fulcrum of race. That makes it unique but it doesn't really set its pilfered narrative apart.
I am so deeply impressed by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out. He is a great storyteller, and has crafted a narrative which not only addresses racism on many levels but also puts the audience in Chris’ shoes to help understand the horrors of racism. His writing and direction are clever, insightful and bold. Bravo!
6
Incredible that this film won an Oscar for best screenplay. Incredible that this reviewer gives it a rave. This is an embarrassing piece of garbage. Basically, the writer decided ahead of writing the story that he’d create a fable about white racism. He then constructed a fantastic horror show to “prove” the truth about those ugly white people. What a disgrace!
5
Jordan Peele is a genius. This was the year's best movie and he is worthy of the Oscar for best director.
9
I so do not get the high praise for this mediocre movie. The horror was corny and ultimately boring. The racism satire was cringeworthy.
7
Sorry you didn't get it.
14
It's a horror movie. I thought well done. More than that --?
1
I think thou doth review too much. You praise when you know not whereof you speak. Or perhaps you know more about what is on a zombie's mind than the rest of us. The film is a most improbable scavenger hunt with loose ends galore. Plot anyone?
2
Love this movie! Get Out is the best film of the year!
5
the first 5 minutes started strong and eroded down to camp from there. a real disservice to the subject.
4
This is not a contemporary take on "guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"; it's a remake of "The Stepford Wives."
This film works out as a semi shallow horror/sci fi flick, but to claim more, as this reviewer does, is to do a disservice to the audience and the film makers both.
Thin stuff like this is not a strong enough scaffolding upon which to examine serious themes.
6
I agree about the movie being a take on "The Stepford Wives". So much cringe-worthy behavior/dialogue from the rich white liberal characters.
It's funny how little real humor there is in the scenes with the family and their friends, the only real humor appears in back in the real world scenes among Black people. Is this how the filmmaker perceives the world -- that white people are no fun? An entertaining horror/suspense piece, but I don't get all the hype. It was OK
This movie is so far fetched, the 'things are not as they seem' obvious premise right from the get go is just ridiculous and unbelievable. I like all of the actors but this has got to be one of the worst things all of them have done. The lead guy, I forgot his name, who's charming spends to much time looking bewildered with a 'duh' like expression. Infuriating, skip it!
11
If you were going to repurpose your brain in a new body, in a rich white affluent neughborhood, would it make sense to use African American donors? At all? Grama became the new maid and grandpa the new gardener? Wait what? This was just downright absurd filmmaking. You can't possibly spin this any other condescending way. I get the feeling this started out as a comedy and halfway through they ran out of jokes.
12
"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" meets the "Twilight Zone."
Silly.
Forget it.
Silly.
Forget it.
8
Boring. One of the worst films I ever sat through.
Overrated. Sacreligious to even bring up a good film, like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
Overrated. Sacreligious to even bring up a good film, like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
7
I have a hard time watching the sanctimonious GWCtD these days. Loved the freshness of Get Out!
2
Is it right to call this a white nightmare, especially when it is about a black protagonist?
3
This movie really isn't about race, and you're better off not thinking too much about that aspect. The racial aspect is intentionally softened, which of course no one points out, since everyone seems to hype race at every chance. (Spoiler alert) The main character, for instance, doesn't even get "bought" for any racial feature, just for his artistic eyes. Talk about toning things down!
If this movie does have social commentary, it's about pointing out where some real problems with race exist: with white liberals.
And so here we are with race in America, 2017: The white liberal movie critics who make this movie all about race, and then uniformly praise the movie for it, are just as creepy as the white people onscreen. And they don't realize it.
And that's the real horror.
If this movie does have social commentary, it's about pointing out where some real problems with race exist: with white liberals.
And so here we are with race in America, 2017: The white liberal movie critics who make this movie all about race, and then uniformly praise the movie for it, are just as creepy as the white people onscreen. And they don't realize it.
And that's the real horror.
15
"The fact that the entertainment industry is not necessarily inclusive of the African-American experience is a similar form of neglect and is a symptom of a deeper problem. I wanted to make a film that acknowledges neglect and inaction in the face of the real race monster...What originally started as a movie to combat the lie that America had become post-racial became a movie where the cat is out of bag, and now we’re having this conversation."
~Jordan Peele
...When the writer/director of a film says it's about race....it just might be about race.
~Jordan Peele
...When the writer/director of a film says it's about race....it just might be about race.
32
Ms. Dargis: Please remember this film, Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams and Betty Gabriel come Oscar time. The Academy has a chronic disregard for both the comedy and horror genres.
5
The Academy also has a chronic disregard for films that come out early in the year, like this one.
3
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner meets Rosemary's Baby. This is the smartest horror film with social commentary too boot. It reminded me of another recent smart horror film, The Babadook.
I absolutely loved the male lead. Just an ordinary guy, with a girlfriend. He wasn't too movie star handsome and his skin was coal black, which was perfect, surrounded by all the white faces and even among the brown skinned black people, he stood out.
So many sly digs, like the running one on the TSA(whom we love to hate). On white people, and when the opportunity was there to go full cliche in a scene with a cop, the writer/director didn't take the bait.
As one who loves scary movies but avoids all horror or slasher films, its refreshing to see one that makes a point, AND is scary. Love this film!
I absolutely loved the male lead. Just an ordinary guy, with a girlfriend. He wasn't too movie star handsome and his skin was coal black, which was perfect, surrounded by all the white faces and even among the brown skinned black people, he stood out.
So many sly digs, like the running one on the TSA(whom we love to hate). On white people, and when the opportunity was there to go full cliche in a scene with a cop, the writer/director didn't take the bait.
As one who loves scary movies but avoids all horror or slasher films, its refreshing to see one that makes a point, AND is scary. Love this film!
11
Character TSA Rod almost steals this great entertainment...and I found myself wanted to bash the bad guys like our hero does...excellent find and rocked the BO!
9
Based on the director's views I'm sure the white family is intended to be an allegory for white liberals in general: "intending well but making matters worse", etc. but just following the plot this seems ridiculous. The father's proclamation of love of Obama seem not eager-to-please obnoxiousness, but smoke aimed at the protagonist's eyes. After all, they are using their black victims as slaves to help themselves or friends, in fact leaving the victims with a fate worse than slavery or even death -- imprisoned for the rest of their lives in some kind of void. Would even the most fraudulent liberal dream of doing that?
4
Wow!! Excellent & frightening. Best film of the year!
5
This is one of the most disturbing movies I've seen in a long time. I can't think of another movie in recent memory that affected this viewer with a roller coaster ride of emotions. What seemingly starts out as a biting satire on race relations turns dark very quickly. It's as if the singular talents of Spike Lee, David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino were thrown into mixer and "Get Out' is the result. However, make no mistake about it: Jordan Peele has made a brilliant film that stands on its own.
27
I am surprised that so many people found the central story so engaging. I thought it was OK, but where I think the movie really knocks it out of the park is in its demonstration of police bias. The rest of it only pulls its weight by helping to support that point so subtly and powerfully.
3
I am NOT into horror movies. I have never liked them -- and never will.
That being said, based on this review, I went to see this movie, and I am glad I did. It is not a slasher film. Buckets of blood do not wash over the screen. Get Out is a smartly observed, sharp, tense, and funny movie that will entertain and enlighten and also creep you out. Check it out. You will be glad you did.
That being said, based on this review, I went to see this movie, and I am glad I did. It is not a slasher film. Buckets of blood do not wash over the screen. Get Out is a smartly observed, sharp, tense, and funny movie that will entertain and enlighten and also creep you out. Check it out. You will be glad you did.
41
Thanks for your comment. I am where you were. Haven't been to a horror movie since about 1953 (House of Wax)! But I will be in the theatre tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Thanks again.
3
As I've gotten older I avoid horror movies. I am glad I saw this one--it is NOT a slasher film and theres very little gore. Most (not all) of the violence is suggested. The films interest is not in the violence but in the relationships between blacks and whites in America.
4
I would be sad to think you never saw the 1961 version of THE HAUNTING (The one with Julie Harris and Claire Bloom, NOT the terrible re-make). My favorite scary movie of all time. And not a drop of blood or a single monster. Just one brilliantly scary house, wonderful script and acting, and great direction from Robert Wise. Give it a look!
9
A slasher film with a twist - not a bad film but not particularly good either. What was a very promising concept degenerated into gore, slash and burn.
5
Wow, so many opinionated people with zero idea of what "genre" is or means.
Yes, this film trades in familiar horror tropes. And inverts them to make a very trenchant and funny commentary on race in the USA in 2017.
The whole point is that Rosemary in the Dakota and Joanna in Stepford didn't realize everybody was after them until 3/4 of the way through those films while the African-American men in this film know even before the film begins that white folks are after them and still can't avoid the horror.
Yes, this film trades in familiar horror tropes. And inverts them to make a very trenchant and funny commentary on race in the USA in 2017.
The whole point is that Rosemary in the Dakota and Joanna in Stepford didn't realize everybody was after them until 3/4 of the way through those films while the African-American men in this film know even before the film begins that white folks are after them and still can't avoid the horror.
65
As others have commented (I just saw the movie), it's a cut-and-paste of others in the '60s & '70s.
The lead actor is stiff in acting and speech, even in the intimate scenes; not a trace of humor.
The ending is a head-scratcher: you mean THAT'S what it all meant? Even "Psycho" had the psychiatrist give an explanation at the end.
Very disappointed.
The lead actor is stiff in acting and speech, even in the intimate scenes; not a trace of humor.
The ending is a head-scratcher: you mean THAT'S what it all meant? Even "Psycho" had the psychiatrist give an explanation at the end.
Very disappointed.
6
This movie was smart, hilarious, and frightening. It drew from hooror films, but also Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. What great acting too. Your review seems sour.
28
As noted elsewhere, this is a riff on The Stepford Wives and overall just a so-so movie; not too funny, not too scary. The NYT review is much too positive and hagiographic.
8
I'd be really surprised if anything Mahohla Dargis wrote could be construed as "much too positive."
10
This film is an excellent descendant of John Frankheimer's Seconds.
5
I am still struck by Hudson's performance.
3
Looking forward to seeing this look at the noxious tiresome condescending paternalism and pity of white liberals. Nauseating and despicable in it's familiar territory where blacks are a pathetic amorphous mass who lack any individual diverse agency. Beloved exotic Caribbeans like Sidney and Harry or Africans like Barack comfort and forgive white liberals white majority privilege. With "friends" like this the honest open contempt of conservativea is clear and convincing and free of hypocrisy.
9
I hope you watched it. I think it will meet your expectations.
So did you see it and what did you think? Having watched Get Out yesterday, I think your comment is on-target: the movie is clearly best when it focuses on the condescension of white liberals (which barely cloaks their true feelings), weakest when it drifts into standard horror material.
3
I went to see this based on this review. It didn't take too long to realize that it was mostly a variation of "The Stepford Wives," with (mostly) black males as the victims this time. Not a bad movie, but not a wholly original one.
5
Also lifted from Rosemary's Baby. As in Rosemary's Baby, the cult leader in this movie is named "Roman."
1
There is no such thing as an original story. They have all been told. If a friend with the stature of an empress from Africa and me, were to accept this invitation, I would soon be tugging at her sleeve, telling her we had to leave based on previous unfortunate experiences. She would tell me this was rude, and start looking for a sign from the Maid. A brief exchange with Georgina might make her sense that all was not what it appears.
Her perspective is different from mine for starters, she has better manners, and it would take an act of blatant rudeness on the part of a member of this party to make her reconsider. The Irish in my make-up and intuition would tell me to get out soonest and not wait. Onto my list of movies, this remains as a 'must see'.
Her perspective is different from mine for starters, she has better manners, and it would take an act of blatant rudeness on the part of a member of this party to make her reconsider. The Irish in my make-up and intuition would tell me to get out soonest and not wait. Onto my list of movies, this remains as a 'must see'.
6
But of course all the critics and good meaning whites will try to turn this mediocre film into the next "12 Years a Slave" What is it about people in this country that makes them such suckers for anything that portrays a Black man helpless and afraid. Can they only relate from a position of superiority? No one wants to really confront the truly frightful aspects of race relations in this country because if they did they would have to abandon all the comfortable lies they have been conditioned to believe. If you truly want to be frightened, take a look at what James Baldwin had to say in the new documentary "I Am Not Your Negro". It will explain why critics love this movie.
12
Great review. Great film. Peele pulled a lot off and well and especially for a first timer. http://www.looktothecookie.org/2017/02/10-reasons-get-out-is-real-life.html
16
Sharp and original satire. Plantation whites serving ice tea to a black guest with complete malice and evil intent. Chris' friend the airport security guard is hilarious, his explanation to the police of what has transpired to his missing friend and their reaction is fall down funny. One prediction, if you're a Trump supporter, "Don't Go" you won't get it.
49
A visiting friend from Africa who has lived and worked in America for years is about to receive this review. Without giving too much away, we had a laugh, and told him to watch the trailer.
2
Babel, well said!
1
Looking forward to seeing this, not only for the great casting, but it is hard to bring the elements of comedy, horror and thriller together. Very much enjoyed The Gift, We Are Still Here, and a particular favorite, Housebound.
5
@Studentparentforlife 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for an almost perfect blend of comedy, horror, and thriller available right on your TV.
Get Out breathes very fresh air into the horror film genre. It kept me on edge from start to finish, with occasional relief found in truly comical scenes between our hero, Chris Washington, and his best bud, Rod Williams, a TSA worker. The film is not only scary and entertaining but it makes one think and reflect on the themes long after leaving the theater. A terrific film!
38
Just as I started writing a small novel entitled 'Unfortunate Dinners' with Edward Gorey illustrations, out comes 'Get Out' which is most timely since I have been hiding under the bed with the cat since last weekend.
Prepare. Some of the funniest and scariest stories about accepting a dinner invitation, sometimes of short duration, have been written by the British author, L.P. Hartley, quiet-like, in his collection 'The Travelling Grave'. The invitation for the weekend where the dressing code is casual and friendly.
How long does it take to keep pretending that all is normal? Chris has been given a warm welcome by his host who is trying too hard to put his guest at ease. He is smart enough to take Georgina on the side, but is he alert enough to not feel badly about taking his leave before dessert?
Onto my movie menu list goes this bill of fare, perhaps even delectable and delicious evening with Mr. Peele the Director and his White Cannibal Club.
Prepare. Some of the funniest and scariest stories about accepting a dinner invitation, sometimes of short duration, have been written by the British author, L.P. Hartley, quiet-like, in his collection 'The Travelling Grave'. The invitation for the weekend where the dressing code is casual and friendly.
How long does it take to keep pretending that all is normal? Chris has been given a warm welcome by his host who is trying too hard to put his guest at ease. He is smart enough to take Georgina on the side, but is he alert enough to not feel badly about taking his leave before dessert?
Onto my movie menu list goes this bill of fare, perhaps even delectable and delicious evening with Mr. Peele the Director and his White Cannibal Club.
8
What about the opening scene in which a man is abducted from a suburban street could possibly have provoked a "flash of Trayvon Martin"? When reading this review with this strained analogy awkwardly shoehorned in, one wonders if the reviewer understood that whites over-eager to signal their 'woke-ness' were the object of satire in the film.
11
First thing I thought of...I mean, (spoiler, though early on) he was put in the trunk of a car so that was hardly an example of signaling "woke-ness".
1
It was definitely 100% a flashback to Trayvon Martin. A black man just walking down a suburban street all of a sudden starts being followed by a strange car...which is exactly what happened to Trayvon Martin. There is no dispute in that regard, it's on the 911 call.
26
What could have possibly evoked Trayvon Martin? A young black man talking on his cellphone, innocent and unawares while a white predator stalks him because he's clearly in the "wrong neighborhood"? Gee, I dunno. . .
27
This is one of the few movies that have motivated me to go to a theater to see it in a long time.
14
Ditto! The trailer alone is enough to want to get out to see 'Get Out'.
5
If its half as good as the trailer it looks like it will be great movie.