Jordan Peele is my favorite new director in Hollywood. I’m naturally drawn to his aesthetic and Nope was on my list of most anticipated movies of the summer and it exceeded my expectations, but I don’t think it’s for everyone.
If you were a fan of his previous two movies Get Out and Us then you will enjoy Nope. Or if you’re a fan of the sci-fi stylings of the Twilight Zone. If not, this may not be the movie for you. His films are pretty polarizing and which I consider to be "elevated" horror. They bring you fear, suspense, mystery, and an underlying message or idea that he is trying to convey.
Nope is his most ambitious film of his three. It’s about two siblings who run a California horse ranch. They discover something not of this world in the skies above. They spent the movie investigating all of the unexplained things happening on the ranch. It’s visually stunning. I loved the night scenes where they seemed so dark, but bright at the same time. You know that feeling when you're out in the dark in the middle of nowhere and you can’t help but feel scared? This movie captured that emotion. The night scenes look like once your eyes finally adjust. I’ve never seen this style pulled off so well.
The movie goes on to redefy the horror genre. Even though it feels more like a sci-fi thriller that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack in some scares. It was like a recurring nightmare come to life. It also allows your imagination to run wild instead of going for cheap scares. The plot of the movie raises many questions so it’s one you have to pay attention to. The characters seem so specifically crafted to portray the themes of the movie. I felt like every piece of this movie had its purpose. So it was cool going into it not knowing a lot about the plot and seeing all those pieces come together.
I feel like it’s a story I will be thinking about for weeks to come and am already looking forward to watching again to catch things I may have missed.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 Hollywood Horses.
Looking for more movie reviews? Check out my podcast Movie Mike’s Movie Podcast on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts!