Reviews Film / Get Out 2017

Run Rabbit Run

Get Out is a 2017 horror film concerning an interracial couple. In the film, Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) is convinced by his girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams) to accompany her on a visit to her parents' estate, though he is adamant about it, because she had neglected to mention to her parents that he was black. She assures him that they aren't racist, so he complies. The Armitage family seems pretty affable at first. Sure, they say things that are slightly skewered, but for the most part they seem upfront. However, Chris begins to notice that something is amiss when the Armitages' black employees seem off. Eventually, he stumbles upon a hidden conspiracy that shrouds the entire town.

For the most part, I loved the film. As you may or may not know, I am a fan of horror films, so I jumped at the chance of seeing this film once it was being advertised. The film is suspenseful in that you never know how the characters are going to behave. You know that something is deathly wrong with the town, but the film keeps you on the edge of your seat, and never gives you too much to decipher until its end. As this film was also written and directed by a known comedian, there are some humorous moments thrown in primarily coming from Chris' friend, Rodney (who is without a doubt the best character in the film). However, the comedy neatly intertwines with the horror aspect, and it never detracts from it. It is a horror film first and foremost. And it most certainly delivers on the thrills. My only gripe is that the trailers for the film displayed a deer skeleton roaring at Chris in what seems like a black void. Many speculated on what role the deer skeleton played in the film, but it's not even in the final product. Maybe it will be included as a deleted scene; I surely hope so. 

The characters are also great. You can easily put yourself in Chris' shoes when the situation draws dire, as well as sympathize with his plight. Rose Armitage is also a pretty great character. However, there is a certain revelation that throws her characterization into question. I don't wish to give away what that twist was, but what I will say is that it was so predictable, that I wished that they wouldn't have gone that route. Her parents are also pretty quirky when you first see them, but they also have their hidden depths. The film also foreshadows several different plot points that aren't immediately made evident unless you apply much thought into them. For instance, the groundskeeper is running in the dark for some reason. A few scenes later, and it totally makes sense as to why he was doing so. 

However, towards the end, I found that the plot was getting too predictable. Once you had collected all of the clues, it comes as no surprise what the Armitage family truly has in store for Chris. It's not to say that it's an inherently bad twist, but I had gotten several of my predictions correct, that it disappointed me that that was the outcome. I also commend the film for how it tackles racism. Rather than it being out in the open, it is subtle. Rose's parents ask Chris a series of questions that are passive aggressive, but they still keep it nicely tucked away. There is also a scene in which Rose and Chris hit a deer. Even though Rose was driving, a white officer inquires Chris on his driver's license. Scenes like that show how racism isn't always obvious at first glance. 

Otherwise, this is a well-executed horror film that I highly recommend. If it's not for you, I recommend M. Night Shymalan's The Visit, which is a psychological horror film with similar plot points.