The unapologetic originality of ‘Us’

After shocking the world with “Get Out” in 2017, Jordan Peele is back to chill the spines of audiences yet again with the release of his newest release “Us.” The film follows a family vacationing in Santa Cruz, California, only to be haunted by the appearance of their doppelgängers, a family of other-worldly doubles who begin to harass them. The family must team up to take on this threat, with the mother of the family, Adelaide, having to connect with her dark past to uncover the truth of it all.

“Us” may be a film that most audiences disregard and shove aside, especially in comparison to “Get Out.” While the latter had a far more straightforward interpretation, “Us” leaves much of its world to remain ambiguous in meaning. This results in a heavily layered, jam-packed narrative that, in the wrong hands, could lead to an incoherent mess with too much on its plate. Fortunately, what director Jordan Peele delivered was anything but, as this quirky, haunting journey makes for one of the genre’s most insane roller coaster rides in recent years — in the best way possible.

Jordan Peele’s work is reminiscent to that of Stanley Kubrick: the attention to detail in direction feels painstakingly meticulous, while remaining subtle. Peele successfully establishes the film’s overall tone within the first few minutes. A sense that something isn’t quite right permeates the first act and that off-kilter feel works to create an effective buildup for the insanity that happens during the rest of the film. As expected with Peele, however, the screenplay also balances things out with some light humor in expertly placed moments, even though it is much less prevalent than in “Get Out.”

The intense attention to detail shines through with the performances, particularly that of Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide. Nyong’o’s performance is one of the most layered elements of the film, not only in the actress having to play two characters, but in the meticulous detail she puts into her decision making that provokes many of the film’s various twists. At the same time, she delivers the ferocious intensity required to play this role, setting her up as a new fierce female icon in the horror genre. Her performance alone is worth giving the film a second viewing, as there are likely a number of subtle hints thrown into her acting process that viewers are sure to miss the first time around.

The film remains creative with a number of solid presentation elements. The editing works especially well in giving the film the intense pacing it requires while never coming off as overbearing. Various production elements were used in inventive ways, with lighting being a stand-out in terms of design choices. Michael Abels’ musical score was also a highlight, letting the nightmarish nature of many scenes shine through and developing a presence of its own.

“Us” brings Peele’s filmmaking journey to new heights of excitement with an engaging, thought-provoking and entertaining thrill ride unlike anything in recent years. It is a film that is sure to get people talking and thinking, so check it out and come up with your own conclusions.