By Moss Geren, Writing Specialist
February 21, 2023

I saw Jordan Peele’s “Nope” in theaters last year, and it was so weird that it immediately became one of my favorite horror movies. I rewatched the film recently, and my sister, Katie, told me Peele had made another several years ago called “Get out.” Obviously, I needed to watch all of Jordan Peele’s films as soon as humanly possible.

A few days later, Katie and I were all set with Blu-Rays of “Get out” and “Us.” I’m so glad she’d mentioned that Peele had other movies, because we had such a good time! To give context without giving anything away, there was always at least one element in the plot that intrigued or surprised me by the end of his films. I’ve seen so much television and read so many books that it’s refreshing to see a new element. I later learned Peele received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.”

Somewhere towards the second half of “Us,” I called the twist, and I was so excited to see if I had guessed right or not. I looked back on all the details in my head and talked about theories with Katie when we paused to get snacks. The twist was super satisfying and well woven into the movie. Part of what makes stories so fun for me is discussing them.

Plus, Peele’s characters were delightfully complex and hilarious, albeit often murderous or misguided. I find many American horror movies are lacking in this area. It seems less common for a horror writer to be as interested in character development as they are in the gory plotline. When I see both, I know I’m going to enjoy the story.

I liked “Us” almost as much as I loved “Nope” when I watched it for the first time. I thought the beginning of “Get out” wasn’t as strong as the other two, but the first film Peele directed picked up over the course of the movie. Often it goes that way with artists as they grow and hone their craft.

I started looking deeper, and Peele co-wrote “Wendell & Wild” with Henry Selick; it’s a cute yet creepy stop animation I’d watched last year. He also voiced one of the leading characters in it, the demon named Wild! Peele was the host of a new version of “The Twilight Zone,” too. I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s on the list.

All and all, I love Jordan Peele’s work, and I can’t wait to see what he makes next. In one of his behind-the-scenes I was watching, he said he didn’t see himself moving away from horror anytime soon. This works perfectly for me and many of his fans. I wait impatiently for Peele’s as of yet unannounced fourth horror film.