An audacious and ambitious mix of the sci-fi, horror and western genres, Nope only bolsters and confirms director Jordan Peele’s mastery of the modern horror genre and iron grip on film making.
Set in a Californian ranch, Nope follows the story of two siblings as they try to uncover the basis of many mysterious occurrences and disappearances around them.
Fashioned as a homage to Peele’s favorite directors, Nope often feels like a cross between Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, owing to a balanced mix of both spectacular visuals and atmospheric thrills that shocks and awes the audience in equal measure.
Like with his previous outings Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele imbibes Nope with the same sense of creeping and unsettling dread mixed with the occasional hit of Peele’s signature dark and low-key humor, through an expertly written screenplay that makes the most of long, drawn out tense scenes, greatly amplified by the editing and sound design.
With films being a medium of escapism, one that has grown increasingly in relevance since the onset of the pandemic, Peele also takes into account the current state of the entertainment industry, crafting a commentary on the dark side of affection to escapism and spectacle, the processing of trauma, and the underlying capitalist greed that has gnawed at the craft of film making today.
Nope is enlivened by the performances of and chemistry between Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as the lead duo of siblings. Despite Kaluuya’s quiet and subdued performance being heavily contrasted by Palmer’s spunky, energetic and standout portrayal, the two play off well against one another, giving the dynamics and relationships between their characters legitimacy and authenticity.
Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, in his first collaboration with Peele, adds a dimension of expansive scope to the film through his work, complimenting the spectacular nature of Peele’s vision, pioneering new film making methods in the process, while composer Michael Abels musical score alternates between both heartfelt and terrifying notes, aiding the tonal shifts of the film’s narrative.
Nope is a great addition to the growing renaissance of the horror genre, and is a recommended watch to those who desire something daringly original, creative and fresh for their movie viewing experiences.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 