In 2017, American filmmaker Jordan Peele made waves with his directorial debut Get Out while propelling British actor Daniel Kaluuya into super-stardom. The film was a phenomenal success that broke boundaries in the horror genre and earned four Academy Award nominations, with Peele winning one for Best Original Screenplay. Fast-forward five years and the duo have reunited in Peele’s latest film, Nope.
The film follows animal trainer OJ Haywood (Kaluuya) as he is struggling keep his family business afloat after the mysterious death of his father (Keith David). While trying to stop his home from being bought by former child actor-turned theme park owner Jupe (Steven Yuen), OJ realises something is spooking his horses and he, along with sister Em (Keke Palmer), set out to discover what.
Leading up to its release, Nope’s narrative was mostly shrouded in mystery with its trailers hinting at an alien invasion – a retro yet overused narrative in the sci-fi genre. The film subtly capitalises on this initial impression, with Peele dropping his now-trademark hints of violin-accompanied suspense that quickly raises the audience’s anxiety levels around potential visitors. For those who aren’t big fans of horror, fear not – this is as scary as it gets, as the film slowly becomes somewhat of an action film as the Haywoods aim to uncover the mystery.
Resembling Jaws with a sci-fi twist, the film changes from the horror of a ravenous unknown entity to chasing and stopping the monster. This tonal change throws the screenplay ever so slightly off-balance as the suspense becomes overshadowed by the characters’ different materialistic agendas, which begin to blend together but seemingly lead to the same hope – an easy way to quick money. It is a very basic plot device that not only restricts the character development but emphasises the mystery and growing complexity of the ‘alien’.
Amid Nope’s genre workings, the film touches on the theme of animal cruelty and the assumed superiority of humans in the food chain. Throughout the film, several animals are treated indifferently or seen as nothing but ‘props’ with disastrous consequences. Between an incident involving a volatile chimpanzee and the general (mis)treatment of horses, this seemingly condescending nature towards animals – or somebody remotely different – displays a disrespect that echoes racist undertones. Complementing this is an environmentalist angle, indicating a deeper social message in Peele’s narrative. There is a subtle concept of ‘organic’ diets with no ‘artificial flavourings’, as well as eco-friendly elements that are mostly driven by OJ’s lifestyle. He lives in rural California in a house lacking modern technology with record players and a VCR, dedicating his time tending to his horses while retaining his late dad’s legacy. His simple lifestyle not only provides a stark contrast to his vaping, fast-talking sister Em and curious stoner Angel, whose geeky nature helps the siblings on their quest, but shapes OJ into an unlikely hero. Through his down-to-Earth attitude and compassionate nature towards his family’s horses, he comes to a breakthrough that allows Nope to evolve from a tense horror to an ambitious chase – running a similar path as Peele’s debut Get Out.
Throughout the film, there are little touches that will resonate with Peele fans such as the significance of cameras as a plot element, black comedy moments (one notable touch involves an electric bike) and the enigmatic POC casting that captures the bewildering essence of the film through their expressive performances. While Kaluuya blends curiosity and determination behind a calm facade, Yuen and Perea offer a sense of whimsy. With such a strong array of performances, Palmer is a highlight whose comedic timing and tearful expressions help to anchor the diverse characters. The dynamic cast also lifts Peele’s direction, which makes the most of the vast landscapes of the Agua Dulce desert to host Nope‘s ambitious special effects, magnificently shot on IMAX.
Overall, there are some irregularities in Nope but they are small blips on Peele’s brilliantly executed and entertaining feature. The combination of his masterful direction, the many layers that keep you on edge, and its impressive cast has resulted in a hat-trick for Jordan Peele – the modern master of suspense.
Nope is out in UK cinemas on Friday 12 August.
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Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Michael Wincott, Steven Yuen, Brandon Perea
Runtime: 131 minutes
Country: USA
