Cheers for fears
Jordan Peele enters the horror-movie genre
Jordan Peele and KeeganMichael Key signalled the end of their five-season Key & Peele comedy collaboration with their movie Keanu last year.
Now, Peele is returning to the spotlight as first-time director and writer of the horror-comedy Get Out, which opens Friday.
In it, an African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) meets the parents of his Caucasian girlfriend (Allison Williams) at their family estate. That’s when things get horribly weird in a Twilight Zone meets The Stepford Wives kind of way.
The 38-year-old Peele talks about his film during an interview in Los Angeles. Q: Why do a genre movie for your directorial debut?
A: A great horror film for me is a such a powerful thing. Even in my comedy, I’ve always had a dark sensibility. I guess there’s a psychopath floating around in my brain. Q: Was it challenging to mix the comedy and the terror?
A: Every little choice in the movie has some deeper meaning for me or a satirical reference of what it means to be black or white and the notions of what we think it is. Q: Was casting the two leads key?
A: Oh yeah. That was really important. It took a while but I loved Daniel (Kaluuya) in Black Mirror. And Allison (Williams) as Marnie in the series Girls is the great jumping
off point for her Get Out character, who is a privileged but sassy city girl. Q: Some of the white stereotyping is exaggerated. True?
A: Yeah, but I do poke fun at various black clichés, as well. Q: Are you encouraging audience participation in Get Out?
A: Absolutely. This is about crafting a movie that satisfies the seasoned horror veteran as well as somebody who hasn’t necessarily fallen in love with the genre like I have. I want to get them involved. Q: How involved?
A When it comes to the payback violence, I wanted to make sure the violence gets some cheers. Q: What was the priority?
A: It was important to me that funny moments ring true. Everybody has to play it straight.
Q: The timing might be right for something like Get Out. Do you agree?
A: Part of the problem is when we discuss race in the U.S. these days, it seems to be such a feeling of defensiveness. Q: So?
A I’m hoping Get Out injects a little bit of relief in that conversation and shows that we don’t always have to take ourselves so seriously.
Q: Do you have any plans to return to comedy as a performer?
A: I’m not a fan of my comedy. It’s like hearing my voice on a recording. I never like it. Q: Will directing be your future?
A: I like directing. With directing, I can sit back and enjoy everybody else’s work, and that’s what I’d like to keep doing.