Jordan Peele was always part of the comedy duo Key and Peele so it came as a surprise when he ventured into horror with ‘Get Out’. The director labelled it a “social thriller”, but he’s always maintained that the transition from comedy to horror was seamless since the genres are more like conjoined twins rather than sisters.  

In comedy and horror, a visceral reaction is expected from the audience through tensions are released, where the first part takes viewers to the edge of the seat and the second either results in laughter or screams, based on the genre. Both comedy and horror tap into the existential fear of the unknown and the curiosity about what lies ahead. 

With ‘Nope‘, Peele’s third horror outing, already making waves, here’s a look at the director’s first two movies and how they’ve matched up. 

Get Out (2017)

The movie that was hailed to have the best script of the 21st century, ‘Get Out’ was Peele’s directorial debut and set the tone for the kind of films he’d make. 

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Using the horror genre, Peele focused on issues of racism. Daniel Kaluuya, who Peele reunites with for ‘Nope’, plays the protagonist who visits his in-laws’ house only to realize something sinister lurks beneath their seemingly-charming demeanour. 

The film touches upon the inherent racism that exists, stemming from an otherization of black people, which morphs into something grotesque as the white people try to harvest the best aspects of being a black person to gain some degree of racial superiority – in terms of lifespan, health, amid other things. 

‘Get Out’ combines sharp writing with the right dose of violence to make it stand out as a movie packing chills but also substance at the same time. 

Us (2019)

It’s a common belief that the second good film actually proves a director’s worth, more than a first success. While Peele’s ‘Us’, starring Lupita Nyong’o didn’t fare as well as ‘Get Out’, the movie cemented Peele’s position among horror directors to watch out for. 

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In the story where the horror arises from an exploration of the oppression that lies in the cast system and an upturning of the same, Peele makes his mark with stylized sequences. One of them comes when a family is attacked by their doppelgangers from underground, and the violence plays out to NWA’s ‘F**k the Police’ blaring over the speakers. 

Now, with ‘Nope’ Peele has a chance to deliver what’s being billed as a “summer blockbuster”, and the director shared that he’s got many other social thrillers to make after this, including a possible ‘Get Out’ sequel