Us review — It defies most people’s abilities to explain what exactly happened. That’s both a blessing and a curse.

I’m not drinking the Kool-aid on this one. Unlike most of my critic colleagues, I don’t think Us is an immediate classic, or writer/director Jordan Peele’s genius follow up to Get Out, a film that quite enamored me.

US is more of a patchwork quilt of arresting moments, horrifying scenes, and plenty of suspense, fright and humor. There are some truly masterful and creative cinematic bites. But when you step back and take a look at the movie as a whole, from a distance? 

There are just too many random pieces stitched together that don’t seem to fit or make sense.

Us starts out with promise: A somewhat nerdy family goes to the family beach house for a nice, relaxing summer vacation, unaware that it’s the same beach where the mother (Lupita Nyong’o) was severely traumatized as a girl. But she does make it clear that she feels the trauma is coming back to haunt her, and that she wants to pack up and go home.

Too late.

Without giving away spoilers, you’ve all seen the images of creepy people standing at the end of the driveway holding hands. The one thing you should know about this movie going in…the one thing that Peele has said he wants you to be aware of, is that those creepy people are the family’s negative doppelgängers—their dark sides, if you will.

And in case that wasn’t clear, there’s a really awkward monologue explaining this in the beginning. (Was it Nyong’o’s delivery, or just maladroit writing?). If you try to make sense of it all and give some sort of deep, social significance to every scene, it will drive you crazy.

Peele has stated that he intends for us to take our own meaning from it, to discuss and think about it afterwards. And it appears  he’s definitely accomplished that.

Rated R

2 Hours 1 Minute

Now that our US review has given you the key to enjoying this film, you’ll want to get the best seats available. Find them at Fandango.com. 

Us review — It defies most people’s abilities to explain what exactly happened. That’s both a blessing and a curse.