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Last Updated: Mar 30, 2019 - 5:19:11 AM |
A compelling narrative containing odd comedic flourishes that diffuse the horror elements with varying degrees of success.
We Are Our Own Worst Enemy.
An unresolved trauma is brought back to the mind of a woman by a string of coincidences while on a trip to where the unexplained occurrence originated. As her paranoia grows, she becomes increasing certain some thing sinister will happen to her family. After a tense outing with friends she returns with her family to their vacation home and when the day turns to night, they find themselves confronted by four shadowy figures in their driveway who eerily resemble them.
Adelaide Wilson is a happily married mother of two who has been dealing of a past trauma and is reluctant to return to the place it occurred when she goes there on vacation with her family. Gabe Wilson is Adelaide’s husband who is looking forward to spending time with his family and friends on vacation when an event takes place in the area that destabilizes his expectations. Kitty and Josh Tyler are glad to go on vacation with their daughters and catch up with their friends when they are thrust into a situation they could not have imagined much less prepare to handle. Red is a mysterious being who has an uncanny resemblance to Adelaide as well as a freakish agenda that she plans to carry out with the help of other beings.
Us is a thrilling mystery that delves into horror as it twists logic in all directions with a premise that takes its audience on a ride with unexpected humor masking truly deadly consequences. As you are swept up into the story, it is apparent that the theme of duality shown throughout the film is there to keep you slightly off balance as you are bombarded with different curves and turns while on the journey to the tale’s end. Lupita Nyong’o gives a performance that is reminiscent of Toni Collette's in Hereditary and I do hope that her work here is recognized during awards season since most of the cast had to play dual roles making it quite an achievement to stand out. Jordan Peele’s writing and directing delivers another motion picture worthy of examination and discussion even though I feel his previous work was superior. Michael Abels score is interesting and shows that he has improved since his musical contribution to Get Out as this feels more manipulative from scene to scene, but does not overpower the eclectic soundtrack. The fairytale touches in this cinematic narrative brought to mind stories like Rose Red & Snow White (not to be confused with the completely different character with the same name who hung out with 7 dwarves), Alice In Wonderland, Through The Looking Glass and The Man In The Iron Mask or films such as The One I Love, The Man Who Haunted Himself, Lost Highway, They Live, THX 1138, The Strangers, Funny Games and Night Of The Living Dead as well as the the tv show Friends episode The One With Russ, Knight Rider episode Goliath (because if I can find a way to fit a Knight Rider recommendation I will) and The Twilight Zone episode Mirror Image (which Peele admitted to being influenced by) among others that have used the doppelganger trope. This theatrical release is worth a second viewing just to take in the many Easter Eggs related to the 80s and to other genre films. I rate this film a rating of 4 out of 5.
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