Comedian turned virtuoso director and Oscar winner Jordan Peele has already proved himself to be a master of the horror genre, expertly interlacing thrills with hard-hitting social commentary to deliver smash hit films like "Get Out (2017)" and "Us (2019)". With "Nope", the director attempts his most ambitious project yet and passes with flying colors, giving us a stunningly original thriller that blends horror with sci-fi and leverages its talented cast to the fullest extent.
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as two fractious siblings trying to make ends meet with their struggling California ranch. The desert skies above them start behaving mysteriously and how they handle the sinister incidents that occur around them forms the rest of the story. In direct contrast to his earlier ventures, Peele relies more on visual spectacle and special effects here than his character's performances to deliver scares and it pays off, with the desert's emptiness and picturesque scenery playing into the nefarious environment the maker is trying to set up.
Oscar-winner Kaluuya is expectedly full of nuanced brilliance in his portrayal while Keke Palmer is a surprise package, delivering a spunky take on her rebellious character of "Emerald Haywood". Steven Yuen, Michael Wincott and Brandon Perea excel in their supporting roles, with Peele continuing to prove that he has a talent for unearthing hidden talents and extracting the most from them.
While not hitting the classic high notes of "Get Out", "Nope" is an elegant, finely structured and highly engaging addition to the growing Jordan Peele filmography, constantly surprising the viewer with its twists and turns. The director's talent to instantly bewitch you with his intricate character studies and twisted plotlines combines this time with staggering visual effects to give an all-around thrilling experience. Recommended!
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as two fractious siblings trying to make ends meet with their struggling California ranch. The desert skies above them start behaving mysteriously and how they handle the sinister incidents that occur around them forms the rest of the story. In direct contrast to his earlier ventures, Peele relies more on visual spectacle and special effects here than his character's performances to deliver scares and it pays off, with the desert's emptiness and picturesque scenery playing into the nefarious environment the maker is trying to set up.
Oscar-winner Kaluuya is expectedly full of nuanced brilliance in his portrayal while Keke Palmer is a surprise package, delivering a spunky take on her rebellious character of "Emerald Haywood". Steven Yuen, Michael Wincott and Brandon Perea excel in their supporting roles, with Peele continuing to prove that he has a talent for unearthing hidden talents and extracting the most from them.
While not hitting the classic high notes of "Get Out", "Nope" is an elegant, finely structured and highly engaging addition to the growing Jordan Peele filmography, constantly surprising the viewer with its twists and turns. The director's talent to instantly bewitch you with his intricate character studies and twisted plotlines combines this time with staggering visual effects to give an all-around thrilling experience. Recommended!