Peele-ing Back the Race Curtain

Rating: 7/10 (17 March 2017)

Jordan Peele's first feature film offers a worryingly bleak reflection of race relations, segregation and stereotyping in what will undoubtedly be one of 2017's most troubling (and terrifying) films. A psychological thriller dressed up as classic horror, the sense of impending doom created right from the off - with an African American man walking through a white suburban neighborhood at night - leaves you with a sense of dread but also numbness; and, to an extent, helpless voyeurism.
Though preposterous at times, the twists and turns taken (and sometimes alluded to, but then swiftly negated) do leave you guessing as to a potential solution to the many problems presented to both our main character, Chris (brilliantly played by Daniel Kaluuya) and best friend, Rod (Lil Rel Howery); both of whom appear to represent specific - yet broad - archetypes of modern day black men in America. The overall eeriness and gloom of Peele's film is sometimes - intentionally- undercut by the voices of certain characters for comedic effect; yet this could be seen as another very real world commentary on the rubbishing of institutionalized racism which is still so prevalent in modern day society. Whilst not perfect, Get Out is a bold, daring and unflinching portrait of the 21st century racial landscape.