140. Us; movie review

US
Cert 15
116 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, violence, threat

Two movies, and two big hits... a Jordan Peele horror could become one of the cinema events of the year if he maintains his standard.
To be honest, I didn't rate Us as higher as the stunningly good Get Out but it still likely to be one of the more memorable pictures of 2019.
This has to be down to the originality of Peele's writing as well as his direction which kept me on edge throughout.
Indeed, I had leapt out of my seat within the first two minutes of this strange but gripping experience.
For the sake of my health, I suppose I should be grateful that Us didn't keep up the intensity throughout but I have to admit I was a tad disappointed that it didn't.
Madison Curry plays a young girl who walks away from her parents at a seaside funfair and finds herself confronted by her doppelganger in a hall of mirrors.

Fast-forward 30 years or so and the girl is now a mother-of-two (Lupita Nyong'o) and goes on holiday to the same destination with her husband (Winston Duke), daughter (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and son (Evan Alex).
Within hours of their arrival, their villa is invaded by four sub-humans who look like them and want to kill them.
The film then becomes an on-screen battle for survival.
Us is both weird and violent in a way which will probably excite fans of Get Out but I found it suffered because over the over-hyped anticipation created by the surprise success of Peele's first film.
True, Nyong'o impresses in the lead role but she doesn't quite have the presence of David Kaluuya in Get Out and the movie doesn't have the same number of gobsmacking twists.
In addition, those with a weak stomach might fight the violence unpalatable.
However, it is original, it has a very sharp edge in more ways than one and even for those who, like me, are less keen on the horror genre, there is enough to enthral.

Reasons to watch: It's Jordan Peele's latest horror
Reasons to avoid: Not got the wow factor of Get Out

Laughs: None
Jumps: Four
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Heautoscopy is a term used in psychiatry and neurology for the hallucination of "seeing one's own body at a distance". It can occur as a symptom in schizophrenia and epilepsy, and is considered a possible explanation for doppelgänger phenomena. 

The final word. Lupita Nyong'o: "I read the script in one sitting, and by the end of the script, I realized my shoulders were so high up ’cause I was so concerned and nervous and actually quite frightened as I read it."

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