Peele's sophomore jinx treads into Shyamalan territory (not.a.good.thing); Nyong'o is the real reason to see it

Rating: 7/10 (28 March 2019)

US (2019) *** Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex. Jordan Peele attempts the sophomore jinx with this decidedly Shyamalan turn (not a good thing) in this horror film about a nuclear family facing a sudden attack by their deadly dopplegangers during a much needed vacation retreat. Claustrophobic and atmospheric (largely thanks to the pin-pricking score by Michael Abels) the film rests its huge agenda (people need people even if they are supernaturally so) on the slender yet capable shoulders of Nyong'o who successfully scores the hat trick in playing both good and evil versions with aplomb and empathy. Otherwise by mid-way you can figure the course of action and the attempt of a twist ending is sadly lacking in subtlety.