Cheers for fears
Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key signalled the end of their five-season Key & Peele comedy collaboration with their movie Keanu last year.
Now, Peel 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 Would you say you are 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 we don’t 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.