Movie Review: Jordan Peele’s Nope Is Out Of This World

October 19, 2022

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com

Jordon Peele has made a name for himself in horror following the release of his brilliant films Get Out and Us. His latest piece of cinema is simply titled Nope and after watching it I know why.

 

Both writing and directing, Peele branches out into the sci-fi genre while keeping elements of horror with Nope in which residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to a chilling discovery.

 

Warning Spoilers!

 

The film centers on a brother and sister, played by Oscar® winner Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah) and Emmy® Award winner Keke Palmer (Hustlers, “Scream Queens”) who run a dying horse ranch. Oscar® nominee Steven Yeun (Minari, “The Walking Dead”), Michael Wincott (Basquiat, What Just Happened), and  Brandon Perea (“The OA”) also star.

 

The brother and sister couldn’t be more of opposites. Kaluuya’s OJ is quiet and hard-working while his sister is a free spirit who comes across as loud and often obnoxious. Yeun stars as a former child star who now runs an old west attraction close to the family’s farm. When OJ and his sister discover that they aren’t alone, that there is a UFO hiding amongst the clouds, they find themselves in serious danger, and they set out with the help of a tech guy (Perea) to catch it on camera. What ensues is horror-filled chaos.

 

Out of the cast, Kaluuya is the stand-out. The way he played OJ with such seriousness and love for his horses and family felt authentic. It could not have been a better performance or casting. He was perfect for his role.

 

Nope has got Jordan Peele written all over it. It has a similar look and tension that we got with Get Out and the eeriness from Us. The film is well-written and looks fantastic.

 

If you’re looking for action, then saddle up, Nope is a non-stop wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though it is a serious, intense film, there are moments of levity. Have you wondered what a space monster taking a giant crap looks like? Then wonder no more. I realize it was meant to be a terrifying moment, but I found it hilarious.

 

The special effects are fantastic and the gore is off the charts. The creature revealed, in the end, is strangely beautiful and reminds me of a delicate orchid blossom though the creature is powerful and very deadly.

 

There is room for many interpretations when it comes to the message of Nope, but to me, it felt like a statement about how we treat livestock. In the film, the creature represents us steadily butchering and consuming and leaving wreckage in our wake with little remorse. Of course, it is also about a family sticking together to face a foe as we’ve never seen. What do you think the message is?

 

My verdict? Nope is another triumph for Peele and his Monkeypaw banner. It gives a fresh twist on the alien/sci-fi genre while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with near nonstop action and drama.

 

The Blu-ray I watched, which is set to be released on October 25, 2022, includes a ton of bonus features that will keep you entertained for hours, including a fantastic documentary that explores Peele’s vision and the film’s birth as well as the creation process of “Jean Jacket”.

 

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON 4K UHD, BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL:

  • ·SHADOWS: THE MAKING OF NOPE* – Unpack the meaning of NOPE with Jordan Peele. Secrets are revealed with this 56-minute immersion exploring the film’s unanswered questions, taking you on an intimate journey inside every aspect of production and offering a detailed look at Peele’s revolutionary filmmaking process.
  • DELETED SCENES – Watch five unreleased scenes from NOPE
  • GAG REEL – A highlight reel of bloopers and outtakes featuring the main cast
  • CALL HIM JEAN JACKET – The object of the Haywood siblings’ fascination is an entity known only as “Jean Jacket.” Filmmakers provide insights into the conception, design, and execution of this mysterious organism.
  • MYSTERY MAN OF MUYBRIDGE – A deep dive into THE HORSE IN MOTION by Eadweard Muybridge, its relationship to the Haywoods, and how it relates to the larger themes in NOPE.

 

 

Share This Article

You May Also Like…