Get Out Review 2017

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”

Rating: R

Runtime: 1hr 43mins.

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford and LilRel Howery

Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s I was a big fan of psychological thrillers. Today, some people may refer to them as old school horror movies.  Now, I love my share of bloodshed and violence in horror films, but I prefer them to be intelligent or creatively done; no disrespect to such horror classics as the original Friday the 13th or Halloween.  I need to be mentally challenged, to escape from the obvious or the  “norm”.  The psychological thrillers from the 1970’s and early 1980’s were masterful in suspense causing movie distress (i.e. cannot sit still, grabbing on to someone, turning your head away from the screen, etc.)  They were great in creating build-up, where audiences would get involved in the puzzling characters and storylines, but they realize that the pieces of the puzzle seem like they did not fit; something was very odd.  The movie’s music, like in 1976’s The Omen, helped build the anticipation.  The beat of the music increased and got louder as did that lump in the back of your throat and the sweatiness of your hands.  Almost too much to bear, inside your head, or sometimes outwardly, you would scream to yourself “just happen already, I can’t take it anymore”. Get Out has this and more.

In a dark and perverse way, it reminds me of 1967 comedy/drama storyline of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.  But I would prefer the Drayton family to that of the diabolical, sadistic just “down right” strange Armitage family.

There are two “must see” performances of the film. Allison William’s (HBO’s Girlfriends) performance as Kaluuya’s girlfriend and the daughter of the Armitage family is both intelligent and intensely eerie.  Her portrayal as the understanding and passionate girlfriend has another layer of complexity that reveals itself throughout the film.  Kaluuya’s best friend Rod Williams, played by LilRel Howery’ s (The Carmichael Show), is definitely a scene stealer as an airport security agent reminiscent of Next Friday’s Top Flight Security.  His comedy relief is much needed as well as a pleasant surprise of the film.  Jordan Peele (Keanu and Key and Peele) both wrote and directed Get Out.  Both his creative genius in writing and comedic timing is well displayed.

As previously stated, Get Out resembles a darker version of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.  But it is definitely not a comedy.  Sure, you will laugh at some of the situations and dialogue that comes from the movie, but most of all you will be thrilled. In the end, when the lights come on and the credits start to roll, you would have gone through a rollercoaster of emotions that consist of excitement, laughter, denial, and triumph.  So, bring that special friend or group of friends and enjoy a throwback to psychological thrillers with a new millennium twist.