Unpacking Us
(Photo Credit: Jordan Peele/Den of Geek)
Black American gold was unveiled again when "Us" directed by horror guru Jordan Peele became an all-time success within the genre, led by the unparalleled Lupita Nyong'o. Needless to say, this movie had America "hanging off a mental cliff", diving itself into a pit of questions, loops, and turns that no parachute could help land. Social media itself was in tug-of-war, trying to define the complexities, hidden messages, and while digesting the gutsy conclusion. I will address critiques on how it the film felt flat but opened up the door for dialogue. Unfortunately, I read many reactions that were honestly confusing, sounded intoxicated, or simply reminded me of when people are baked watching the matrix. However, I found more sobering conclusions. First, seeing how creative genius directs a story and attempts to come up with my own conclusion has always been a joyful challenge. Unfortunately, with this movie I had 3 plots in mind within the first 40 minutes. My first choice was the right one. I was upset about it, but what I came to realize is that the messages are what makes Peele unlike anyone else (STOP SAYING ALFRED HITCHCOCK). The best horror stories are historically aligned, gone array...
(Photo Credit: Jordan Peele/MovieWeb.com/)
1) If you take the movie for face value, then the movie happened exactly the way it is presented visually. Often times people may want to think beyond the reality of life, which is an issue a because no experience is ever the same as the last. One thing that irked me and no one said anything in the theater was when she attempted to snap on beat...that made me question her development because Black culture naturally aligns with 2 and 4. Sounds "ignorant" but try and do it yourself at a cookout and feel that friction in your soul.. which you still have. 2) Using the Hands Across America movement was brilliant because it gave those who remembered in 1986 the foundation to a hidden motive. The implementation of tethering and its significance is culturally eye-opening due to our Black consciousness currently being challenged. 3) Being no longer able to speak or be heard (the clones), yet still having pride about being "American", we then conclude, " But at what cost?" It's accepting the shell we revel in. The clones were the product of human self-reflection at the brink of damnation. From there, the only way to rise was once that person accepted their truth. That is a resilience that only those who've experienced trauma could truly align with.
(Photo Credit: Jordan Peele/Slate.com)
What I want to expand upon is the idea of who really was the antagonist in the film. No one wins when we combat our soul, our spirit. The truth is, she knew our language, how to speak, and even how to interact with human beings. She adapted to our "alien" culture, learned, and overcame her adversity; which many Black women in America must do to survive. She had to lose herself to become herself. This presents a deeper meaning to the film, that many critics have yet to unpack. At the end of the film, audiences across the nation were shocked knowing that it was the clone all along, which means the "villain" had won. We tend to overlook our worst selves which is what the film was trying to explain to "Us". How many of us today conform, blending ourselves to "fit in"? The survival mechanism is an instinctual need that can become cancerous if not limited. We are living in a time right now where people seek more nurturing than ever. This is because we are running the cultural well dry. This also explains the need for scientific research because religion has become an afterthought to the development of mankind. Jordan Peele wanted Us to understand about the fight of humanity and self-preservation was more than ending whats wrong. By embracing what we have left behind. Each clone had something humanly taken away them. The truth is, we are the ones choosing how we will be caged (The entrance to the facility was a series of doors with an escalator guided through abandoned tunnels )...So how do you plan to...escape?