Jordan Peele's Nope Delivers Well-Constructed Thrills And Surprises

 

      

      The key to any successful horror story is the effectiveness of the distinct directorial style that the chosen filmmaker brings to the story. When looking at classic horror and suspense directors, ones like Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Craven, and John Carpenter come to mind with an eye being raised towards Oscar Winner Jordan Peele's rising stature as an acclaimed filmmaker in the horror genre. After experiencing back to back box office and critical success with 2017's Get Out and 2019's Us, Peele extends his hot streak with his latest horror/sci-fi outing Nope which reunites him with Get Out leading man Daniel Kaluuya. Taking direct inspiration from the early careers of Steven Spielberg and Carpenter, Peele's Nope is as equally original and creative as his previous efforts while also challenging his audience to put the pieces together regarding the films puzzled plot.

      Nope's story has two siblings (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) running a horse ranch in California with them discovering something UFO type phenomenon in the skies above while the owner of a nearby adjacent theme park aims to profit from the mysterious phenomenon. Nope's plot carries an undeniable Close Encounters Of The Third Kind feel to it along with a touch of Carpenter's The Thing in regards to how Peele sets up the story as well as his characters desire in uncovering the truth behind what's in the sky. Although it may be too ambitious and complexed for audiences to find comfortable, Nope contains enough thrills and surprise twists to make for a chillingly new sci-fi/horror experience.

      A key ingredient that makes Nope so effective as a horror story is the dynamic performances from its talented cast, who each own their roles in addition to showing genuine excitement for bringing the story to life. Daniel Kaluuya once again demonstrates that he's the ideal leading man for a Twilight Zone type Jordan Peele story with him proving to be strong and charismatic in the role as horse trainer OJ Haywood Jr. Keke Palmer however, completely steals the show as OJ's fun-spirited sister Em, who desires fame and fortune in Hollywood. Both actors do a fine job of playing siblings while providing the stories heart. Steven Yeun does well as Ricky "Jupe" Park, former child actor and owner/creator of the theme park "Jupiter's Claim." Other notably solid performances include Brandon Perea as tech salesman at Fry's electronics Angel Torres, Michael Wincott as renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst, Wrenn Schmidt as Jupe's wife Amber Park, and Keith David as OJ's father and owner of Haywood's Hollywood Horses Ranch, Otis Haywood Sr. As a whole, Nope's cast work together extremely well with them bringing a tremendous sense of believability to the story.

      When it comes to directing, Peele continues to strengthen his skills with impressively setting up mysteriously chilling atmospheres while keeping a steady hand in helming the story. With Nope, Peele is given his biggest budget yet that allows him to widen his scope in terms of storytelling. As for the films overall look and cinematography, Nope carries a stunning look and feel of a horror flick with the R rated violent elements of its story being profoundly effective. An example includes a blood-covered chimp going on a murderous rampage, pummeling characters off screen, as well as a character being killed in a gory fashion when struck by a projectile. The films cinematography delivers frightening imagery including blood raining on a house, pouring down the windows. The sound effects terrifically enhance the stories visual impact with disturbing noises and traditional jump scares. At 131 minutes, Nope moves at a steady pace that mirrors Spielbergian films such as Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and Jaws. The soundtrack does a fine job of balancing the awe and frightening moments of the film, along with the more personal ones between OJ and Em. With the story, Peele takes what's arguably his most ambitious project yet and gives it a grand production scale that includes key sequences being properly being filmed in IMAX which ultimately enhances the story. 

      Some of the themes explored in Nope's screenplay include teamwork, inclusiveness, and problem-solving in the face of impossible odds. OJ's character is shown to be struggling in continuing his father's legacy with handling horses for film and television productions. His relationship with Em is presented as being a bit strained in the sense that his character is more inward and reserved while she's more outspoken and daring. The films side characters are well-established to the point where they leave a notable impact on the story along with drawing the audiences curiosity. Other themes the script explores are humans fascination with spectacle as well as attempts to tame and control other species for purposes including entertainment and profit. One of the films strangest subplots shown involves a chimp that snapped and went on a bloody rampage on the set of a 1990s TV sitcom. While such a subplot feels randomly placed in the film with little meaning to the story, it makes more sense once the viewer thinks about it's meaning that's meant to symbolize humans blind fascination with spectacle involving animals while attempting to control them backfiring. With Nope's script, Peele crafts the story as being a mysterious puzzle that's intended for the audience to solve while connecting all the pieces together regarding the UFO's identity or the symbolism behind the chimpanzee. The use of shock sequences including horses and other animals being harmed by the creature, prove to be shockingly effective with the film boasting a Signs feel to it. 

      As well executed as Nope's story appears to be, it isn't for everyone given how Peele likes to do things unconventionally, which will unquestionably be off putting for some audiences. While it doesn't carry the same kind of social commentary that accompanied the works of Get Out or Us, Nope still delivers as being a masterfully constructed and wildly entertaining ride which signifies another win for Peele whose unquestionably becoming one of modern cinemas most important voices.

Final Verdict: A must see for horror and Jordan Peele fans. 

Images Courtesy Of Universal Studios