By Claire Gunning
and Wyatt Robb
Editors In Chief
During the 2018 awards season, many new films push boundaries on which films the academy choose to nominate. Although, historically speaking, the Academy Awards have been primarily anti-horror, the nomination of the film, “Get Out,” has led to many fans rooting for the screamers.
“Get Out,” a movie about an African American man whose experience with his white girlfriend’s family leads to near brainwashing, is nominated for four major categories at the Oscars this year: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. “Get Out’s” wide reach in regard to these categories is an impressive one, as only four other horror movies in history have managed to garner a Best Picture nomination.
Directed by Jordan Peele, “Get Out” stars Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, a young couple who go to stay with her family for a week. Peele has previously been nominated for an Emmy for his sketches on the hit Comedy Central show “Key and Peele.” Kaluuya, an up-and-coming English actor, also currently stars as W’Kabi in the highly anticipated Marvel movie, “Black Panther.” Williams is in pre-production for the new movie, “The Perfection.”
In the film, racial tensions between the white family and Kaluuya’s character Chris are not simply touched on, but play a large part in the development of the plot. Peele alludes to issues such as idolization of race, slavery and bigotry. Part of the reason why “Get Out” is so terrifying is because it is topical, and somehow does not seem as implausible as Freddy Krueger hiding in your closet.
The reason why horror movies have been notoriously unsuccessful in the past Oscars is due to their lack of depth. A good movie is one that sticks with the viewer even after they leave the theater. Sure, watching Jack Nicholson stick his face through a door will give you nightmares for a few days, but watching a film that makes you laugh, scream and smile like “Get Out” does, represents something much more. “Get Out” is dynamic, and deserves every nomination that it received.
“Get Out” will face some tough competition from the other films nominated for Best Picture this year. “The Post” includes a powerhouse cast featuring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” also packs a punch with an excellent performance from Frances McDormand. “Call Me By Your Name” has been hailed for as an excellent coming-of-age story. Ultimately, a victory for “Get Out” will be no easy task, yet hopes are high for this influential horror film.
“Get Out” is available for viewing on various streaming platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Prime and Hulu.
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