**An excellent film, which deserves our attention.**
I saw this movie yesterday. I've been thinking about it for a while, and yesterday I took the opportunity to do so. I already had a notion that it was a very successful film, and that it was successful at the box office and with specialized critics. For a horror movie, that's pretty good stuff. For my part, I think it's a good film, well above average. It's a tense film, that works well with the environment... and yes, it has scary moments. Nominated for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay, it won an Oscar in the latter category.
The script works, mostly, on the issue of more educated racism, maintained and cultivated by the white elites of some North American circles where, without harassing blacks, they are seen as “rare birds” in the environment where they are. Afterwards, the film departs from this base to something denser and darker: the protagonist begins to realize that the people in that family act strangely, and that the black people who are there seem to be automatons. It's worth seeing what happens next...
This film seeks, in every way, to escape the stigma of American terror: the scares that, due to the action of the effects, make us jump in our seats. Seeking to give us more, he works a lot with the environment, and the tension gradually builds up as our sympathy for the main character grows. And that's the strong point of the film, and what makes it different, on the positive side. Jordan Peele did a very competent job directing, and showed that he understands horror and can give the genre a breath of fresh air. And this becomes even more relevant if we consider an aspect already highlighted by many people: he was a complete novice when he directed the film.
Regarding the performances, I think it's fair to value Daniel Kaluuya's performance, more than committed and tense. He was really very good and if the film works so well, in part, it is due to this very competent actor. Allison Williams also leaves a good performance. I especially liked Catherine Keener's work. She does a very small job, appears for a short time in the film, but is very impactful.
Despite not being a big budget film, I think I knew how to make the best use of every coin and prove that a good film doesn't really need to be expensive to make. The cinematography is very good, it is within the standard of current films, but it does its job very well. The sets and costumes don't stand out much either, although we have to highlight some quality notes, such as the clothes of some characters and, very in particular, the room where one of the characters ends up imprisoned. The visual and sound effects are good, and are used with intelligence and care. The soundtrack does, without imposing itself, a competent and discreet job.
