Get Out is the movie we need and deserve right now

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Get Out is artistically uncompromising and provides thoughtful, relevant social commentary.

The thriller film Get Out was written, co-produced and directed by Jordan Peele, previously best known for his comedic work on Mad TV and Key & Peele. The movie is about black boyfriend Chris Washington’s visit to his white girlfriend Rose Armitage’s parents house and the ensuing racial tension related events that become increasingly strange and threatening involving hypnotism and the family’s peculiar black house and groundskeepers.

At first glance, Get Out appears to be click bait, the movie, dependent on an edgy and unforgettable concept. However, the film rises far above its satirical foundation and manages to be enlightening on issues of racial tension without being pushy all while providing gripping drama. Many of Washington’s interactions with Armitage’s family involve them making comments about his race, so as to imply they are not racist. This functions to foreshadow ensuing drama and generates a tense atmosphere while highlighting a widespread, yet overlooked cultural phenomenon and its consequences in a way that is relatable and easy to digest for both black and white audiences.

The production feels original and stylistically intentional. The cuts are often abrupt in a way that contributes to the tense atmosphere and gives the production an original feel. Panning and zooming is so slow and subtle that it goes unnoticed which keeps the viewer sucked into the experience and also contributes to the tense atmosphere.

The costume and set designs are thoughtful and give the film a unique aesthetic and colour palette of warm colours and natural shades that are contrasted with cold, blue light in intense moments.

It feels appropriate and intentional that the main performers in Get Out have ties to trendy and artful TV programming; Daniel Kaluuya plays Washington and has appeared on an episode of the acclaimed high concept science fiction show Black Mirror (recently subject to hype after becoming available on Netflix), and Allison Williams who plays Armitage is known for her role as Marnie on the progressive HBO comedy-drama Girls.

The movie provides a deserved opportunity for these undervalued actors, and for audience members who have the associations, it makes it easier to trust in the integrity of the film.

Washington is a challenging character with a traumatic backstory who faces a diverse series of absurd, confusing and intense situations over the course of the film. Kaluuya remains fully in touch with this character and brings a gripping intensity to the movie with his constant believability.

Williams is a perfect choice for Armitage. Her performance brings so much depth to her character and she is irresistibly charming which makes it easy to forgive her character. Bradley Whitford as Armitage’s father and Catherine Keener as her mother perfectly accomplish the task of being realistically awkward parents who are unsettling in a subtle and elusive David Lynch-esque way.