Review ‘Nope’

NOPE is a thrilling, sci-fi mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat 

Writer/Director Jordan Peele introduced us to Get Out and Us, some masterpieces that were created from inside his imagination that were created for his love of horror. Peele’s always chosen horror as mean of execution and to bring depth to his imagination and forces viewers to see the harshness of reality. Peele returns with his third instalment Nope but this time with a sci-fi twist.

Nope centers around two siblings, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer) who are residents of a ranch that were inherited  from their father who mysteriously dies during a shower of debris. For generations the Haywoods have made a name for themselves as raising stunt horses for Hollywood film and television.

Then we see on the other side of the ranch, child actor Ricky ‘Jupe’ Park (Steven Yeun) who owns the Wild West theme park. Ricky is also the center of a traumatic animal accident that happened a couple years back, and viewers see a series of scenes of the horrific experience, making it difficult to watch.

The Haywoods and Ricky both find a mysterious saucer which looks like a UFO lurking around the sky, and are all determined to get a photo of it that will make them rich- give them their Oprah moment. The Haywoods get the help of a salesman from an electronics store Angel (Brandon Perea) who helps them set up some technical equipment around the ranch. The Haywoods want to get rich, pay their bills and never have to worry about the future, while for Ricky, it’s to achieve the same amount of fame he’s once had as a child. Peele dives into society’s deepest desires, of doing whatever it takes to make a name for themselves.

The way Peele is able to tell these stories in a sci-fi setting with an ominous background,  impressive visual effects and bringing the feeling of fear and thrill in a slower paced movie, demonstrates the excellent skills he has as a filmmaker. The story is also relatable but can be interpreted in many different ways, all including Peele’s subtle references, symbolism and race all incorporated in the film. Nope questions the obsession and curiosity of the entertainment industry and getting the perfect ‘shot’.

Don’t expect Nope to be like ‘Us’ or ‘Get Out’ but rather a film that will take you on a 50s sci-fi invasion whirlwind and give you a one hell of a spectacle.

Watch the trailer for Nope below

Universal Pictures releases Nope in theatres on Friday, July 22, 2022