Nope
Director Jordan Peele (Us) burst onto the scene with two brilliant works of horror. Influenced by auteurs like John Carpenter, Peele uses horror as a metaphor for specific societal ills. It makes the scares run deeper because there’s an element of reality in even his most whimsical touches. Nope, while not quite as developed and nuanced as his past work, is still a fun, atmospheric romp.
With this sci-fi horror, Peele seems to be drawing more from Spielberg than Carpenter—specifically Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Nope is essentially Jaws as a space Western. It’s filled with stunning visuals, delicious tension, and a passel of truly fascinating ideas.
The result is good. But it ain’t Oprah.
Verdict: Jordan Peele is still one of the best minds in horror. Go see this on a big screen.
