After a traumatic childhood experience in Santa Cruz that left Adelaide Wilson permanently scarred, she and her family return to the area for a simple vacation. Strange events begin to occur and soon the Wilson family comes face to face with their bloodthirsty dopplegangers.
Max: Without a doubt, “Us” is scarier than Jordan Peele’s prior film, “Get Out.” The idea of a clone — or “tethered” in this case — coming after me is unique and thoroughly spine-chilling, even as a fan of the genre. And don’t get me started on the incredibly tense music. But the increase in scares comes at a cost, as the plot begins to unravel and become more predictable later on.
Brandon Hill | Argonaut
Brandon: As someone who dips their toe into the horror genre once a year at most, “Us” was everything I could have hoped for. The subtle humor reminiscent of “Key and Peele” gave me just enough relief from the constant tension to actually enjoy myself. Although I viewed most of the plot from behind my hands, Peele’s ability to create a stand-alone, cohesive storyline with a satisfying conclusion serves as a breath of fresh-air in an increasingly franchise-driven market.
Max: While a harrowing and mysterious first half drew me in, the film’s conclusion failed to deliver. I was left with far too many questions and open-ended plot holes, which detracted from the film’s not-so-subtle message. Much of the humor landed for me, but it felt too frequent and out-of-place at times. At the forefront is Winston Duke, the wise-cracking father who serves as incessant comic relief. The result is a divisive tone that doesn’t quite manage to capture the family’s realistic emotions and instead downplays the horrors they continue to witness.
Brandon: From my partially obstructed perspective, I almost enjoyed the second half of “Us” more than the first. As Lupita Nyong’o’s character battles with her alter-ego, the audience is treated to more complex emotional turmoil than what started as a traditional slasher film. The plot thickens and the ending payoff only capitalized on hours of build up. But “Us” does operate somewhat outside the realm of possibility. The story itself exists in a real enough world to help audiences relate, but that reality quickly shifts into the improbable and eventually impossible, which can be jarring.
Max: For me, the ending payoff actually left me more anxious than any other film in recent memory. It’s an incredible twist that helps elevate the film beyond a typical horror entry and changes the meaning entirely upon a second viewing. This is made possible by Nyong’o’s tethered, “Red,” who was the highlight of the film for me. Her hoarse, cracked voice and stiff movements are startling to watch, and brilliant cinematography allows both Adelaide and Red to frequently appear on screen together.
Brandon: The twist really does serve as the icing on the cake. While others have said the ending was easily predictable, I left the theater flabbergasted. Even better, for the first time in my life I am actually considering giving a horror movie a second viewing. Once revealed, Peele’s twist really does transform the narrative, possibly for the better.
Max Rothenberg | Argonaut
Max: I don’t think the twist would have the same impact with different actors. In most horror films, the characters are simply devices to help move the plot along, but each actor plays two incredibly nuanced roles here. Being able to balance a normal character with their tethered, soulless counterpart is a large task, but even Zora and Jason, the two children, play drastically nuanced and large roles as they embark on a cat-and-mouse chase with their tethereds.
Brandon: And while Nyong’o steals the show, her on-screen children were a pleasant surprise. I often hesitate when it comes to child actors, but Evan Alex’s performance as Nyong’o’s son sent chills down my spine. And Duke, best known for his role in “Black Panther,” knocked it out of the park as the protagonist family’s father.
Brandon Hill and Max Rothenberg can be reached at [email protected]