Us, written, directed and produced by Jordan Peele, who is also behind the 2017 film Get Out, once again hit viewers with major plot twists and confusion.
Us had a trailer that left many critics concerned that the entire movie was spoiled, however it’s my belief that you’re not fully able to predict the movie just by watching the trailer.
After seeing the movie, I realized that the storyline that I had in my head did not match the actual storyline.
Us is about a family who is taking a trip to the beach and end up in a situation they never imagined themselves in. Each family member has a doppelgänger, which the movie calls the “tethered”. The tethered look, think and act like the real family members, with a twist. They’re a copy of the body, just not the soul.
There are numerous potential themes within the movie, which contributes to some of the confusing aspects of the story line.
First, America’s story is constantly being forgotten or overwritten, which is why some characters recount their past with their tethered counterparts. Sometimes it takes a trigger or a familiar feeling for someone to remember an event.
Secondly, classism and inequality are present. The tethered are described as the shadows and are forced to live out the actions and the will of the privileged. The only thing that’s keeping them from moving up is the downward escalator.
They pretend to do everything the people above do without any actual payoff. People on the surface represent the people who take advantage of the things that they have and don’t realize how lucky they are to have it. They see it as a norm, while the less privileged see it as a luxury.
Third, we are our own worst enemy. If we don’t choose to face and address our personal problems, we could live a life of guilt and shame because of the situation. People run from those feelings or addressing the problem for as long as they can before being forced to face them later on in life.
Overall, the movie gets a four out of five stars from me. The best thing to do is to go into this movie with an open-mind and no expectations.
You can’t compare this movie to Get Out or any other movie, although there are references to other movies. The ending just leaves you with a cliffhanger and lots of confusion and unanswered theories.
The music selection is great and extremely creepy.
The acting and casting are perfect.
Jordan Peele is a cinematic genius and will surely be talked about and questioned for years to come.
Honestly if this movie doesn’t win some type of award, I would genuinely be shocked.
Take time to clear your mind and expectations, then go see Us. You just might be surprised.
