This movie was upsetting.
This is considered a horror movie. Although I don't consider myself a person who likes horror movies, I looked at a list of best horror movies (here) and it turns out I've seen more than I expected. The ones I've seen are more mainstream and less gory than what I consider a horror movie. "Get Out" would qualify in that regard.
In any event - this movie was disturbing because of what I THOUGHT might happen, and what I wish hadn't happened.
Spoilers ahead...
The thing I wish hadn't happened: I really wish he hadn't gone to her house in the first place. Of course, d'uh!!! But, not because of the movie cliche. I wish he hadn't gone because they've only been dating four or five months AND she hadn't even told her parents she was dating a black man.
Grrrrrr. Yeah - we'd all like to believe it doesn't matter. And it really doesn't.
But, it's not nothing. Parents have an idea of who their child will be dating, and unless they know that there's been interracial or same sex dating in the past, it seems unrealistic - and unkind - to present them with something outside of what the parents expect or imagine without a little warning.
Just because someone is surprised doesn't mean they're racist or homophobic. I also refer you to the "Golden Girls" episode where Rose (ah! Another Rose!) dates a 'small person' (I have no idea what the preferred descriptor is these days). Blanche and Dorothy were surprised, but not unwelcoming once they realigned their expectations with reality. It's not that people are mean, they just assume things.
Maybe we can all learn to get over having expectations and this wouldn't be an issue anymore.
To me, Rose (of the movie) sounds like she purposefully wants to put her parents in an uncomfortable position. She's using Chris to make a rebellious point to her family.
If I were him, I'd run right then. I'd break up with her.
So, that's why I wish he hadn't gone to the house.
Considering what I now know about the movie, I wonder why she responded that way at all. Given her motivations, why didn't she just say - Yes, I told them...there's no problem with it? He would be less suspicious and she would have an easier time getting what she wanted.
But then, that wouldn't be clue number one for the audience.
The first thing I was surprised didn't happen was when Chris asked the blind gallery owner, "Why only black people?".
The blind guy passed it off by saying he doesn't know about the others, but his goal is Chris's eyes - he doesn't care what race he is.
I thought he might have said something like "Because no one looks for missing black people".
Maybe that's too 'on the nose'? Too direct? Maybe Jordan Peele, the writer and director, was trying to make a more subtle point? I haven't read a lot about the movie so I'm not sure where his head was at. The movie is often described as a horror movie that also comments about race.
I might have wanted to see a movie about race that uses horror to make it's point.
The second thing I was surprised didn't happen was when the police car came. I expected the black guy would get arrested for killing the white family.
In this instance, maybe since the audience expected that, it's horror enough...?
Maybe I was getting played a little in this case? Or, maybe the audience being horrified is more important than the story.
'Cause I was pretty sure that was definitely going to happen.
...maybe it did.
And it was really shocking and horrifying when we could see there was an auction going on. OMG...that was so horrible.
Oh yeah - and Andre Hayworth was sorta rescued in the end, but he still chose to end his life. OMG...again.
Another 'surprising moment' was Grandma and Grandpa.
That family was creepy.
Overall, this movie really made me uncomfortable.
The start of the movie, Daniel Kaluuya, said "This film is how racism feels. You get paranoid and you can't talk about it. You can't voice it. No one around you gets it, so you can't speak about it. And in the end it just comes out in rage."
...
"Those are the times you have to bite your lip, when an officer's disrespecting you, in order to get by. In order to have freedom. In order to not be strip searched. In order to not be imprisoned. So you circle at the party, having to smile, because if you stand up and want to go, you're the troublemaker, you're the nuisance, because you are not playing the game - you're not making everybody else feel comfortable."
I think I must have an easy time putting myself into character's shoes, or I've had some small examples of these experiences in my life in other ways - being powerless for sure.
That was part of why this movie made me anxious and uncomfortable...in a good way (sorta...:)).
We've created a world of real horror for many people in the USA.
This movie makes me so sad about it.
