PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I can say I honestly can’t believe it’s already been five years since we were introduced to Jordan Peele’s Get Out. I truly believe that the horror community will never be the same… in the best way possible. Get Out wasn’t just a thriller; it wasn’t just a horror film. It held a bigger message on what society is really like. I have this thing where if something freaks me out enough my eyes will water. I just re-watched the trailer for Get Out and my eyes watered the whole time, and the hairs on the back of my neck were even standing up. This film will always be one that freaks me out. I also love that Jordan Peele added some comedic moments. It truly keeps you on your toes!
Synopsis:
A young African-American visits his white girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.
Get Out Fun Facts
1) Daniel Kaluuya was given the lead role on the spot after nailing his audition. Writer, co-producer, and director Jordan Peele said Kaluuya did about five takes of a key scene in which his character needs to cry, and each was so perfect that a single tear came down at the exact same time for each take.
2) Jordan Peele said the title is also a reference to what he often hears black audiences shout at the screen while watching horror films: Yelling at a character to “Get out!” In this movie, Rod and Andre both say it to Chris.
3) Due to the success of this film, Jordan Peele became the first African-American writer, producer, and director to earn more than $100 million in a debut film.
4) Chance the Rapper was so impressed by the movie that he bought all of the movie tickets from certain Chicago movie theaters just so people could go see the film for free. In one of his tweets talking about the film, he says, “Just pull up with an ID and enjoy the movie.”
5) When writer, co-producer, and director Jordan Peele was asked if Universal Pictures asked him to do a sequel to this film, he stated, “Of course they have. It was the first thing they said. ‘Let’s do a sequel.'” He goes on to say, “Honestly, I’m open to it. I love the project, but I won’t do a sequel just for some kind of cash grab. If it’s right, if it feels good, and I feel like I can beat the original, I’ll do it.” I really respect Jordan Peele for this as it truly shows that he not only cares about his films, but also sees how much value they truly have and how brilliant his work is.
6) The opening of the film is partially inspired by the opening of Halloween (1978), which Jordan Peele described as a subversion of “the perfect white neighborhood.”
7) This movie was filmed in twenty-three days.
8) The song playing in the beginning of the film when Chris is packing for the weekend is “Redbone” by Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. Writer, co-producer, and director Jordan Peele wanted that song because of its lyrics, including “stay woke” and “don’t close your eyes.”
Please excuse me while I fan girl over Jordan Peele. He’s so meticulous with every decision he makes. He has earned his spot among the famous horror movie directors such as Wes Craven, John Carpenter, George A. Romero, and Tobe Hooper, just to name a few.
9) Daniel Kaluuya has said that he can relate to the party scene. He states, “That party scene was just like, ‘Oh, I’ve been in that party. I’m going to that party.’ Like, that kind of racism that isn’t seen as racism, that isn’t seen as… mainstream racism. It’s just life, and to explore that is quite an uncomfortable conversation, and Jordan just spoke his truth. He cinematically articulated an experience that millions of people go through, and they are made to feel crazy for going through that. But he just said, ‘No, actually, you’re not crazy.'”
10) The film joins the handful of horror films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture such as The Exorcist (1973), Jaws (1975), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Sixth Sense (1999), and Black Swan (2010). In this case, Get Out did win the award.
Bonus Facts:
When Jordan Peele was writing the scene where Chris is under hypnosis the first time, he ended up crying. He states, “There was a point in the process where I got to something that was very vulnerable. The fun evolved into tears. I mean, when I was writing about Chris in the hypnosis and The Sunken Place, I ended that day crying, and it was a cathartic thing. I wouldn’t describe it as fun.”
Regarding the meaning of The Sunken Place, Jordan Peele said, “The Sunken Place means we’re marginalized. No matter how hard we scream, the system silences us.”
