Rating of
3/4
Jordan Peele keeps things simple and enjoyable
Indyfreak - wrote on 03/14/23
A definite improvement over Jordan Peele's last movie 'US', this newest thriller serves more as a conventional but competently made crowd-pleaser. Instead of metaphors about race or class, Jordan Peele shifts towards more abstract concepts like fame or fortune-seeking. But in the confines of a UFO movie. And it works.
Daniel Kaluuya is O.J. (yes really) who is the stoic son of a deceased Hollywood horse trainer. O.J. accidentally spots a UFO while trying to manage his ranch (keep his father's legacy alive) with his flighty sister emerald. They figure it is their chance to strike it rich and make alliances with other attention seeking characters to document the extraterrestrial entity.
Jordan Peele's direction feels like a return to form like in 'GET OUT' where his style seemed fresh and energetic. You can see some of that in the big set-pieces and humorous moments, but he has also gotten better at 'show and not tell' as a filmmaker. I will say there is no real big twist with this movie (aside from the aliens' true nature being a bit of a surprise for the characters).
The cast is pretty solid. Kaluuya is better here than in 'GET OUT' but he's still a bit too reserved as a performer. Keke Palmer provides much needed humor as his more excitable sister Emerald. Steven Yuen has a memorable supporting role as a fame hungry entrepreneur.
I enjoyed the balance of science fiction and suspense but I will say it's not really quite as scary as I hoped it would be. I think SIGNS (2002) is a bit more effective as a horror story. But if you liked SIGNS or other UFO movies, I think people will be entertained by it.
