Jordan Peele Examines Race Through Horror By Writing and Directing Get Out
While it’s sad that Key & Peele is coming to an end, both Key and Peele are clearly too talented to be away from the spotlight for long. Jordan Peele’s next mission? To scare the living crap out of us.
According to Variety, Jordan Peele’s next endeavor will be writing and directing a horror film called Get Out for Blumhouse Productions and QC Entertainment. More than just being popcorn, money-making horror, Peele is looking to bring his incisive, intelligent commentary to the horror genre with regard to issues of race. Says Peele:
People know me for my work in comedy, but now I’ll get to focus on my passion for writing and directing horror films. Like comedy, horror has an ability to provoke thought and further the conversation on real social issues in a very powerful way. Get Out takes on the task of exploring race in America, something that hasn’t really been done within the genre since Night of the Living Dead 47 years ago. It’s long overdue.
The plot of the film involves a black man who goes to visit his white girlfriend’s family estate. I’m assuming that the horrors there want him to Get Out.
We’ll see. But if there’s anyone who can bring some hardcore, thought-provoking insight to the horror genre, it’s Peele. I don’t even like horror (not because I dismiss the genre, but because I’m a big baby who enjoys sleeping rather than being kept up at night being afraid of every noise in her apartment), but I will likely give this film a whirl. We’ve already seen some horror/comedy from Peele on his sketch show – stuff that was diluted with comedy, but was also kinda legit scary, showing his love of handling of the genre:
I remember how shocked I was (and it goes to show how Hollywood has brainwashed me) when I first saw the original Night of the Living Dead, and it had a black protagonist! I was thrilled, but surprised, and it really was a smart, deep examination of race relations with, you know, zombies. The world really is overdue for more of that, and I can’t wait to see what Peele comes up with!
What do you think? Are you looking forward to Get Out? And what other smart horror movies are out there that critique society as they scare the pants off you?
(Image via Kevin Edwards on Flickr)
—Please make note of The Mary Sue’s general comment policy.—
Do you follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?
Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com
