Movie Review: Us

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Sometimes I can get away sharing my thoughts after having seen a movie and not give away any spoilers. Us is not one of those movies. That’s your warning that spoilers are ahead!

Us was a movie I was looking forward to ever since I first heard the Get Out director had another horror movie coming out. I was only tantalized more after reading the Haunted Librarian’s “5 Things to Know About Us.”  (She gave me ideas for a few things to watch for. Also, kind of a fun fact that the boardwalk was also in The Lost Boys.)

To be honest, I’m still digesting Us. And processing my feelings about it. Did I like it or didn’t I?

Praise for Us

Jordan Peele is crazy clever. He’s crafted a very original script in Us, which is not only refreshing, but appreciated. Breaks up the landscape of horror that’s dominated by remakes and sequels.

The actors are all amazing. The casting couldn’t have been better. They all nail their performances. #Bravo

There’s humor in just the right places. Again, very much appreciated. Perfect antidote following some of the tenser scenes.

Us also contains impressive haunting imagery and music. Masterful. Those two elements are as important as the actors.

 

And then there’s the symbolism…this movie has a message. It makes you think. In some people’s cases, they’re finding all sorts of things to think about, which have spawned crazy Internet theories.

But it’s the thinking part that also gave me pause, and, to be honest, diminished my enjoyment for the  movie.

Questions from Us

I had read the Vanity Fair article, “Obscure 80s Horror Film That Unlocks the Meaning of Us,” before seeing the movie.

Horror has been doubly repressed by American film culture: first relegated to the place of low culture, then, with a few gilded exceptions like Get Out, ignored by many film scholars and historians. Us suggests that there, in its underground and unappreciated status, horror has only gathered power. Now it’s time for it to emerge.

C.H.U.D. is the obscure horror movie the article talks about, because it’s an Easter egg at the beginning of Us.

First off, C.H.U.D. is obscure? Not if you came of age in the 80s. Either my age is showing, the Vanity Fair author’s is, or both.

However, the article somewhat helped to explain the Tethered. Somewhat.

But what was up with them really?

Yes, they were creepy and all that as far as the movie goes, but what exactly were they?

And, yes, my husband and I argued about this for 30 minutes following the movie: I know they’re a symbol in their own right, but beyond that…what are they?

Who created them?

How were they created?

Are they human?

Are they clones?

Why were they fed rabbits?

How exactly are they tethered to the people above ground? How were they going to be used as puppets? To do what?

Why was the experiment abandoned? And why were the Tethered left to fend for themselves? Why didn’t they –whoever “they” were –just eliminate them when they abandoned the project?

And really? There could possibly be that many of them living underground? That’s some experiment!

This is where the movie took a bit of a turn for me. As far as liking it.

Because, yes. Like I said, they were creepy. Just showing up and wanting to take over the lives of their dopplegangers above ground was freaky.

But the pragmatist in me had trouble suspending my disbelief about this plot premise.

Rating

Other than the problems the concept of the Tethereds posed for me, my only other complaint about the movie was that it was a little slow to get started. Once the action hit, it hit hard. But at one point I was like, “Where is this movie going and when is it going to get scary?”

About that time is when the Tethered family showed up in the driveway. And then the fun began.

I’m still trying to decide how good it is. Or, rather, how good I think it is.

Is it “Best I’ve ever seen” good? Not that good. But it is pretty good. But not perfect.

However, horror is hard. Creators do have to ask –and rely on– their audiences to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. I struggled with that this movie.

But my heart is torn because everything else about it was amazing. It’s better than a 3.5, but am I willing to give it a 4? Will that change over time?

I don’t know, but for now, because everything else was done so well, and it does bring a focus to tough issues and gets people talking, a 4 out of 5 skulls it is!

Check-In

Have you seen Us yet? What did you think? If you haven’t seen it yet but are planning to, stop by and share your thoughts when you do.