Us (2019) - Jordan Peele

Unlike Jordan Peele's directorial debut, US, his second feature film, perhaps not surprisingly lacks the same cohesive vision. A film centered around antagonistic dopplegangers, the intrinsic construction of US places elasticity on its thematic intent, leading the film to struggle with scope and the same incisive vision as his first film, Get Out. What remains clear is Peele's understanding of the horror genre, one in which the filmmaker maestros with tactical precision, as US remains an engaging blend of brooding suspense, thrills, intrigue, and masterfully placed comedy, all which are orchestrated due to not only Peele's affinity for sensibilities of the genre but his willingness to manipulate those to his horror mise-en-scene. Ambitious horror filmmaking is nothing new, and one of the largest potential problems with Us is its own lack of thematic intent, which undoubtedly will implore anyone and everyone to confidently lament what the movie is really about. The aforementioned elasticity of a premise such as this invites interpretations, and with US the one which deserves the most credence is the critique on class in America, especially given the epoch of the opening sequence. The problem here though is yet again it's only a surface level reading, as Us lacks the necessary designs to be anything more than a playful distraction. This is why US is best enjoyed a simply a strong, engaging horror film, one that narrative construction and sharp denouncement make it a film worth watching.