Horror movies get a bad wrap.
More than any other genre, people define horror by lowbrow cliches; trashy premises, low production values, and excessive nudity and violence. So, when a standout horror flick arrives on the scene, critics shuffle it off into a separate category called elevated horror – creepy, smart, well-crafted horror flicks that appeal to viewers with “taste.”
Elevated horror may impress critics and movie nerds, but they rarely catch on with mainstream audiences. Their slow pacing and complex themes don’t lend themselves to the type of thrill-a-minute popcorn flicks wider audiences crave.
That all changes today.
Writer-director Jordan Peele’s latest film, Nope, expertly blends elements that appeal to horror audiences of both tastes. Nope combines the brain-melting spectacle of a summer blockbuster with the performances, craftsmanship, and weighty themes of an Oscar-bait film. If life was fair, Nope snags its share of nominations this award season. It’s that damn good.
Six months ago, Otis Haywood Sr. (Keith David) died under mysterious (and violent) circumstances. Now his son OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) inherited the family’s animal wrangling company. OJ knows the business inside and out, but he’s no people person, so he hires his fast-talking sister Emerald (aka Em) (Keke Palmer) to help with an important TV commercial shoot. But tensions between the siblings get in the way, and the situation spirals out of control.
OJ was counting on the big payday since the company has struggled since Otis Sr. passed away. Making matters worse, some inhuman force starts to prey on the Haywood’s prized horses. Looking to cash in on the otherworldly visitor, the siblings plan to film the alien presence menacing the ranch.
With the aid of a snarky electronic store salesman named Angel (Brandon Perea), OJ and Em struggle to do the impossible: capture a UFO on film. But doing so proves treacherous, and their money-making scheme soon becomes a fight for survival.
I’m still buzzing off my packed IMAX screening, but I’m sure Nope already earned a spot on my best of the year list. There’s a lot to praise here. Michael Abels’ bloodcurdling score ratchets up the intensity until your heart feels like it’s about to explode. Hoyte Van Hoytema’s immersive cinematography plunges you into the Haywood ranch alongside Em and OJ (especially when viewed in IMAX). And without getting spoilery, the special effects team’s dazzling work is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
But Nope’s true secret weapon is its sensational cast. Kaluuya turns in another world-class performance as OJ. It’s rare to see such a subtle performance in a loud, spectacle-driven movie. The strong and silent rancher shuffles about like the world’s weight rests on his shoulders. He may not have lots to say, but OJs every glance speaks volumes.
Palmer matches Kaluuya’s movie star charisma beat for beat. Em is not one to bite her tongue, so her larger-than-life personality is matched only by her colourful outfits. She’s loud, blunt yin to her brother’s soft-spoken yang.
The duo’s chemistry is off the charts. Each sibling is weak where the other is strong. Despite Nope’s cosmic horror premise, at its core, this is a story about a brother and sister realizing how much they need each other. Their complicated relationship is the heart and soul of the movie.
The movie works so well because it borrows heavily from some of the most talented storytellers to ever direct. Nope has the sense of wonder and adventure found in Spielberg’s most beloved classics. It features the bold characters and intricate worldbuilding found in most Tarantino flicks. Peele sprinkles in Kubrick’s sublime sense of tension and existential dread. And if that weren’t enough, Nope showcases the visual grandiosity of Villeneuve’s sci-fi epics.
But this is Peele’s third time behind the camera, and his own cinematic stylings are finally crystalizing. Nope doesn’t hide its Spielberg, Tarantino, Kubrick, and Villeneuve influences. However, we experience them through a Peele-esque lens.
Peele’s distinct observational style flows through every scene and the special ingredient that makes this cinematic gumbo feel cohesive. Beyond the UFOs and effects-driven spectacle, Nope is a twisted social commentary of the highest order.
Horror movies grab our attention with monsters and mayhem, but the classics that stand the test of time point a mirror back at us. They peel back humanity’s layers to reveal deep dark truths about who we are. Ghosts, aliens, and monsters are just mechanisms to help storytellers examine the depths of the human soul.
Nope is loaded with damning observations about our messy society. In the first 15 minutes, the film touches on the white gaze, microaggressions, and how black voices are scrutinized and diminished in professional settings. The film returns to themes of legacy, specifically black Americans’ struggle to be recognized for their historic contributions to their country. In doing so, Peele also calls out the romanticization of the old west and the whitewashing of history.
I could drop a 2000-word essay on what this film says about our obsession with fame. But above all, Nope is a tale about our unhealthy addiction to spectacle. And who can argue with that? We live in an attention economy, after all. What captures our attention faster than a celebrity train wreck? We’ve become a culture of Colin Robinsons feeding off one social catastrophe after another.
In 1975, Jaws terrified audiences with a simple but effective premise. A hungry shark feeds on the oblivious residents of a small island town. It’s famous tagline just sounds like common sense, stating, “You’ll never go in the water again.” But in 2022, common sense matters less than being liked, shared, and retweeted. How many Tiktokers and wanna-be influencers would plunge into Jaws’ shark-infested waters for a viral photo? Peele’s horror thriller is a clever device to interrogate that compulsion.
Nope succeeds on multiple levels that will please the elevated horror crowd, as well as people looking for a thrilling summer blockbuster. You can nerd-out over the story’s biting themes while chasing its many references and easter eggs down internet UFO rabbit holes. Or you can kick back, relax, and enjoy Peele’s sci-fi take on Jaws. Either way, you’re in for a rare treat.
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