We went and saw Us, and while it was an incredibly solid horror movie, it did not live up to the hype. Yes, it had good social commentary and implications. Yes, it is by one of the most respected (if only because of his single debut horror movie, Get Out) writers, directors out there, Jordan Peele. Yes, it starred an all-black cast. It’s hard to follow something like Get Out with something even more impressive, and that’s the only sin that Us committed.

Us Overview

At its core, Us is a home invasion horror movie. Us is also a smart critique on America today, both politically, and socioeconomically. Even more, it’s a fun, and at times, funny movie that everyone can probably appreciate.

https://youtu.be/1tzFRIQfwXg

One of the many things that Us has going for it? It’s a conversation starter.

My Score

7/10

While it’s

all the things I described above, it’s not particularly impressive in any

stand-out way. It’s a solid movie that people will talk about, but it’s just

not THAT thrilling. I was fairly bored during about ⅓ of this movie, and a lot

of that was while the cat and mouse game between these two mirror families was

playing out. It is an intricate, well-crafted film, with an eye on symbolism and obvious deep meaning. It

just didn’t entertain me like I hoped it would.

UsPre-order the Blu-Ray for your collectionBuy on Amazon

Us Movie Spoilers

Us begins in 1986 on the Santa Cruz boardwalk, with young Adelaide having a fun time with her parents. At some point, she wanders off and discovers a House of Mysteries below the boardwalk, which is where she first comes into contact with her tethered-self.

https://youtu.be/Adlemia_V7o

The international trailer

This intro is nearly perfect in the way it builds tension and sets

the atmosphere. I was enthralled immediately. The beach at night is a very

scary place, and I think he captured that

feeling quite well.

Adelaide is deeply traumatized and stops talking following this

event for some time.

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Fast forward to the present day, and Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) is driving with her family to their vacation house near Santa Cruz. Adelaide is nervous about returning to the scene of the crime that caused her so much agony as a child.

The family has a few strange run-ins at the beach and a small scare. From here they meet up with their friends, the Tylers (Tim Heidecker and Elizabeth Moss). I can’t take Tim Heidecker seriously, for me, this is a miss-cast role, but to be fair, for most it’s probably a high point in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyn6g6JFkIY

Say No, no to the purple scare no no's. One of the many reasons I can't take Tim Heidecker seriously. Yes, these are real commercials for real mattresses.

Her husband (Winston Duke) believes that she is overreacting when she starts having panics about the safety of her family, and the area in general. When they are getting ready to go to bed that night, the action ramps up when they see a family standing in their driveway.

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There is a lot of chasing and being chased in Us, which is the least fun part for me. There weren’t very many genuinely disturbing moments, there were few scares, and overall the middle of the movie felt very soft compared to what it could have been.

Thinking back on Get Out, it wasn’t a movie that went over-the-top with scares, it did what Us did, created ambiance, and mood quite well.

Us is well cast and acted, every single character was compelling and made the movie better except Tim Heidecker, whom, as I said, I just can’t take seriously.

https://youtu.be/fa7f-Q-Bq9Q

Jordan Peele's Rotten Tomatoes interview on Us

So, when we meet the tethered people