YNMS: "Us"
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 1:46PM by Chris Feil
Yesterday, Jordan Peele was our Santa Claus doling out cinematic gifts. First thing Christmas morning, the writer/director of the Oscar winning Get Out dropped the trailer to his follow-up to that mega-smash, the cryptically titled Us. And the internet promptly snapped - or snipped, given the film's scissor fascination.
Curiosity would naturally be at a fever pitch for what Peele has in store for us for his sophomore feature, and Us has smartly been quiet until now. The film centers around Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide, a mother taking her family (including Winston Duke as her husband) on a beachside vacation only to be visited by a menacing family of their doppelgangers, The Tethered.
The trailer, which really plays like an extended teaser, gives us hints at the themes Peele is working with - family, trauma, self-reflection. And if Peele's promises that this film would be more firmly planted in horror elements hadn't convinced you, hold onto your butts...
YES
- From the looks of this, a sophomore slump would be a real shocker. We can count on the fact that Jordan Peele has delivered another terrifying, wild, razor sharp ride. A genuine "WOW!" even without Get Out's already cemented status.
- Lupita Nyong'o starring vehicle! Finally something that promises to show the full span of her range as an actress post-Oscar win, and it looks like she runs with it. I'm as intrigued to see her relish being in creepy villain mode as I am for her protective mama bear.
- Winston Duke as a corny dad is so inspired!
- Turning rap classic "I Got 5 On It" into an ominous nightmare track?! The nerve! It's canon: "I Got 5 On It" is now a Christmas song, and also I guess a Halloween song.
- Can't place what this film's narrative trajectory is, or how much of the film might exist in the real world or an imagined one. And that is a VERY intriguing thing.
- I too think it's vodka o'clock.
NO
- [placeholder for folks who can't handle scary movies]
- As intriguing as Elisabeth Moss is here, please don't let her character be a horror contrivance to get an early kill.
- Also making the rounds is a list of ten films Peele provided Nyong'o as inspiration points for the film, and a few titles feel very spoilery, so reader beware. Most concerning is that some of them might leave room for some kind of rug-pull plot twist, which who needs that with a concept as brilliant as this?
- UGH more tedious "elevated horror" debates coming our way. Obviously, not this film's fault. Or Hereditary, Get Out, The Witch, etc.
MAYBE SO
- There are a lot of visual motifs here - rabbits, paper men, aforementioned scissors, etc. which of them will be merely cool and what will be narratively important?
- How am I supposed to pick sides between TWO Lupitas?!
- While those "elevated horror" takes almost always feel backhanded even when praising a film, it can't go undervalued when a horror film does hit a bullseye of originality and genuine scares (which FYI can happen in any kind of horror film, not just whatever one person deems worthy). OOPS, I fell into the take trap!
- ... can someone call my mom to come get me. I'm scared.
As if I wasn't already a firm yes on the film, this trailer has me at YES PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU. Us arrives on March 15 - where do you fall on the Yes No Maybe So based on this trailer?
Reader Comments (19)
This looks so exciting!!
Some of Lupita's line readings are pure dred,can't wait,loved get Out and gr8 to see Lupita not covered by make up and CGI.
I liked Get Out wasn't as crazy about it as everyone else...but this looks ICONIC.
I'm a yes because, well, duh, but I can't help but feel that the evil doppelganger family is a major plot point/spoiler which should have been withheld. I guess that only means that there are greater surprises in store.
I want to watch it because Lupita, but I'm such a baby when it comes to horror movies. I'll probably ruin it for myself and read the plot details before watching it, because I don't think I could handle it otherwise.
All I can say is..... OH HELL YEAH!! This looks awesome. The family has to kill their doppelgangers.
This really reminds me of “+1” aka “Plus One” a few years ago where raving teens had to battle doppelgangers of themselves. Anyone else see that blink-and-you-miss-it film?
@Troy H that was what I was thinking as well, but I remember Peele said for Get Out. Blumhouse wanted to spoil that the Girlfriend was in on it in the trailer but Peele argued against that. So I don’t think Peele would approve of the trailer showed too much.
I’m a definite yes , love the use of I Got 5 on It.
I think I'm most intrigued by that list of 10 films Jordan Peele made Lupita Nyong'o watch. 1) It was specifically a list for Lupita: did other actors get different lists or no lists at all? 2) While some of those films have twists, a lot of those films have twists or plots that go directly against each other in style, storytelling elements, and approach to horror. Peele is very smart and I really don't want to overthink the references going in. 3) What I did catch from the trailer before seeing the list had me super excited.
I'm so down. Peele proved for years on Key & Peele that he knows horror inside and out. Now he gets to straight up make horror without having to make it funny. He's passionate about it. I like that.
I wonder if it will be like the underseen COHERENCE
At first I was like... this is a little silly. But by the end, I was like ok, I'm in. This is fun. Seeing them being tortured by their evil doppelgängers is awesome. And LUPITALUPITALUPITALUPITALUPITALUPITALUPITALUPITA.
I'm glad I have a movie to look forward to in the beginning of the year.
This is going to be one of the 1-2 horror movies a year I actually go see - like, scary-ass horror movies that make it hard to sleep or go out after dark for a few days, but that are worth it. Appreciate the [placeholder for folks who can't handle scary movies], that's me, but I'll get over it to see this one.
Lupita in a leading role - yes. I was worried, pre-Black Panther, that we would never see a strong career for her after her Oscar win, I'm glad to see her doing so well - and it seems like everyone, from industry to critics to fans, is on board for anything Lupita.
"I Got 5 On It" instrumentals used as a horror score - yes. However earlier today I read an article that said at the end "By the way, if you're curious about that song used in the trailer, here's what it is" and now I feel old.
I'm a firm yes - now off to try and avoid any and all analysis of the trailers, reviews when the movie actually comes out, etc. so I know as little as possible when I inevitably see it.
Yes to everything. Big YES to Lupita Nyong'o.
I can't help but feel that the evil doppelganger family is a major plot point/spoiler which should have been withheld.
All it does is make the title of the movie make sense. There remains so much else that needs explanation.
Can. Not. Wait!
Nakia and M'Baku reunited! And the trailer is giving me the horrors of assimilation and code switching. Peele is a genius.
it’s a no from me - the trailer was almost too scary for my delicate sensibilities
Oh, and Lupita better be nominated for Best Actress--I don't care if it's too early to talk about 2020 Oscars. lol. I can tell from this trailer she'll be deserving.
Anya-I literally do the exact same thing! I find it a lot less scary when I know what's about to happen. lol