By Melissa Antoinette Garza
One of my favorite films of all time is THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975). I adored the film since childhood. It outlined the fear of turning the clock back to when women were subservient to men. Katharine Ross brilliantly portrayed the lead and regardless of how many times I watch it, her delivery hits hard.
I saw the trailer for GET OUT (2017) months ago, and desperately wanted to see it. It was original yet reminiscent of THE STEPFORD WIVES. Not to mention, I really love Jordan Peele. I even enjoyed the critically panned comedy KEANU (2016).
Yesterday, I went to the theater with my husband to watch the film. Now, before I review it, I want to talk about a troubling trend I’m seeing on social media. Many of my conservative friends are labeling this movie anti-white. It isn’t. It is an examination of the fear of a regressed society. Just as not everything is racist, not everything is anti-white either. We all need to stop looking for things to be upset about. There are plenty of reality based issues to solve. GET OUT (2017) is not one of them.
The movie follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) who is going to visit his girlfriend’s rich white parents for the first time. His girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams) assures him that they won’t care that he’s black. His longtime friend, Rod (LilRel Howery) warns him not to go, but Chris reassures him there’s nothing to worry about. Rod is skeptical but agrees to watch Chris’s dog.
When the couple arrives, they are greeted by Rose’s parents Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean Armitage (Bradley Whitford) who embrace them. Things get awkward when Dean seemingly tries to overcompensate by using words like “thang,” phrases like “my man” and casually remarks that he would have voted for Obama three times if he could have. Now I’d like to push my conservative friends to look at this. This family is liberal. If this is a political indictment of sorts, it’s not against white people. It’s about the façade liberals put on when talking to anyone who isn’t white. This isn’t just one scene but a theme throughout the movie.
Rose’s brother Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones), for example, talks about Chris’s genetic make-up and how with training he could be a beast. Guests at a party ask Rose if sex is better when her partner is black. One guest comments on how “in” being black is.
All of that said, I don’t think GET OUT is anti-liberal or anti-conservative. I don’t believe it is anti-white or anti-hypnosis (Chris gets hypnotized by Missy to quit smoking). Instead, we have a smart, well-written film, with a great cast who portray characters with depth. There are twists and turns that most won’t see coming. The plot is insightful and as it progresses the audience can feel the paranoia Chris feels.
It’s funny, whenever I watch THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975) or RACE WITH THE DEVIL (1975), I’ll constantly say two words aloud over-and-over again “Get out!” During this movie, I was saying the same thing. “GET OUT!” I was also saying, “Listen to Rod!” and “Help Andre!” (You’ll get that last one when you watch it.)
Whether you’re on the right or the left go to the theater to catch this one. I’ll be buying it when it comes out!
Just in case one wonders, I am a Donald Trump supporter. First and foremost, I treasure the constitution and love America. I support those who disagree with me and I listen intently when they have a point of contention. There are times, I say “I was wrong.” I look at that as a strength and not a weakness.
If you are looking for racism everywhere, you’ll find it everywhere. The bonehead move by Sarah Silverman when she saw the construction marks and thought they were swastikas is proof of that. If you are looking for things that are anti-white, it’s the same thing. Using the same logic, you could contend that the movie is anti-rich, anti-establishment, anti-liberal or anti-alternative medicine. Hell, we could call HALLOWEEN III (1982) anti-adult and anti-Halloween or say that WESTWORLD (1973) is anti-cowboy. It’s all hogwash! Whether you’re on the right or left, stop trying to make a boogeyman. We have enough real ones to worry about.
GET OUT is about the fear of becoming your worst nightmare. It’s about the need to keep your individuality and your very soul. It’s about evil maniacal villains who care more about what they want than the life of another human being.
This is the best horror film in years. If nothing else, enjoy it for that! Stop worrying about the politics of the movie and just enjoy it for what it is. I for one hope there are sequels coming.
SPOILERS: STOP READING – THIS IS FOR JORDON PEELE’S EYES ONLY
There’s still hope for Andre (Lakeith Stanfield)! Jordan Peele, I want a sequel where Andre gets cured and is okay. You left him alive and still messed up! Surely, there’s some sort of cure or surgery that could help him. Maybe, they kept the part of his brain that could be reattached somewhere. I’m counting on you Peele. Throughout the whole movie I was like, “I hope he’s okay.” I’d go to my husband, “I hope he makes it out.” I waited throughout the end credits convinced somehow Andre would be okay. I’m not saying you fucked me, but I am saying that Stanfield would be perfect as the lead in a sequel. #SaveAndre
SCARED STIFF RATING: 10/10
