Gonger Reviews: Us

Us (2019)

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elizabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker.

Synopsis: Sewer mutant clones attack! And they turn out to be US!!!

Soundtrack: The first thing that grips you in a terrordrome such as this flick is the music! Holy frick guys! Micheal Abels, the composer for the previous master class Get Out , returns with a sharp, penetrating score. The use of the music was smart, as well, blending into the scenes such as music coming from stereos to enhance the story. This was met with humour and terror leaving the audience with a mixed bag of emotions to awkwardly laugh while we watch Peggy from Mad Men get her jugger opened up. 2/2

Acting: Horror flicks have no right casting heavies like Lupita Nyong’o and Elisabeth Moss but this isn’t just a horror movie, its an arthouse jam and that deserves a higher level actor. The cast here is fantastic but its no surprise. What I found truly refreshing is how the actors all chose to keep there characters levelled. No one cast member is out acting the next and no one is unbelievably over the top or under performing. This kept a certain amount of realism to the character which in turn added to the nightmare fuel that kept me, a man who fears nothing, awake at night... I wasn’t scared though. Just cautious of clone Gonger attacking. Of coarse the only thing that can defeat me is me... 2/2

Cinematography: Micheal Gioulakis is quickly becoming one of my favourite DP’s. I was surely impressed by his work on Glass earlier this year. His use of light and shadow, keeping the camera grounded and those incredible face shots. Well forget that shit! Here comes Us! Gioulakis takes it to another level using the same techniques but amplifying to a true fit for his style. The face shots in this film are bone chilling, that grounded camera is panic inducing and the use of light and shadow are down right terrifying! 2/2

Directing: Jordan Peele does it again! Heres the thing though, its not a repeat of Get Out. Its something totally unique and way scarier. There is something very precise about the execution of this flick. Its tuned to attack your emotional core and turning your fear amplifier up to 11! Peele isn’t just making movie, he’s creating a tapestry of terror and by golly he knows how to make a movie! Might be from his time making sketch comedy. There they had to create a short stories with emotional impact. I think he brings the same idea to his approach to the long format and works each scene as if its its own tale. Can’t wait for the next one!

2/2

Writing: I figured this one out right away but I watch a lot of movies so its hard to get one past me. That being said I think the narrative worked very well even if you knew what was up and I think Peele meant for that to happen. I was looking forward to a cerebral horror that would have me thinking for days and boy howdy I got it! I spent all morning researching the symbolism and reading interviews by Peele to get that deeper dive as this flick story still holds many questions. There is a bit of exposition though that had me worried using flashbacks and narration. It was the weakest part of the flick but not to much of a take away. I could have gone my whole life with out knowing a thing about the back story and maybe enjoyed it more. It does tie the overall narrative together though and most audience demands explanation. I just hate being told a thing in such a manner. On the flip side there is another bit of exposition that does not get caught by these trappings and is probably one of the finest bits of horror writing I’ve ever witnessed. This is a cool script all the way though from plot to story and I really did get that feeling of wanting more and at the end of the flick thats all we need.

1.5/2

9.5/10 This flick is a top tier terror twister that blows yer nerves right out of the water! Horror fans rejoice! Your savour has arrived!