Although it may not be everyone's cup of tea, horror is my favorite movie genre. From old pioneers like "The Exorcist" to cult classics like "Jennifer's Body," horror can come in many forms. Some movies cause fear and others induce disgust, but the best horror movies invoke these elements while telling a story with a clear message. Jordan Peele's contributions to the horror genre, "Get Out," "Us," and "Nope" are all prime examples of good horror films. All three movies combine classic horror elements with a gripping plot and a compelling theme. Examining Peele's history allows a glimpse into his creative process and the inspiration for his films.
Peele's most recent addition, "Nope," is a sci-fi horror film that focuses on the theme of exploitation. Fast Company interviewed Ian Cooper, Peele's long time friend and right-hand man, about Peele's process when creating "Nope." Cooper has a unique perspective into Peele's process because they have been friends for over 30 years and worked closely together when creating these films. When asked about their dynamic, Cooper said that he and Peele were both creative people with experience in the visual arts. Jordan Peele has a long history in the arts, namely in the sketch comedy show "Key and Peele." Cooper said that this experience allowed him and Peele to hone the skill of "how to conceptually condense ideas into visual language" (Fast Company). "Nope" is a very visual movie--its ability to keep the attention of the audience is instrumental to communicating the theme of exploitation as the audience mirrors the characters in the movie, gawking at commodified weirdness. Peele wanted to create a UFO movie and visually communicate the theme of exploitation, which led to the, in my opinion, successful creation of "Nope".
Peele also watched horror movies as a child so he developed an affinity for them at a young age. His combined experience with comedy and horror also translated to his second horror movie, "Us," which is a slasher comedy-horror focused on classism. "Us" has the elements of a slasher film and has moments of intense suspense but Peele balances this out with expertly timed jokes that cut the tension but do not erase it entirely, keeping the audience engaged. Peele's ability to draw from different past experiences to create something new is a good example of the collective style of thinking. Peele draws on his comedic and visual experience to create a new era of horror that allows the audience, in his words, to, "address real life horrors and social injustices in an entertaining way" (Biography). Peele's entries in the horror genre have been entertaining and revolutionary.
References:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90771564/inside-the-creative-swings-of-jordan-peeles-nope
https://www.biography.com/actors/jordan-peele
I appreciate the intention behind defining both horror as a genre beyond just the idea of fear, and the juxtaposing idea of comedy-horror. The way Jordan Peele uses the blurred genres of sci-fi, horror, and comedy to address societal issues in an abstract way is incredibly interesting, especially in hindsight to experiencing these movies for the first time. I love learning about storytellers, and this post does a great job at touching on who Peele is as a person through his past and how that affects his productions.
ReplyDeleteI am a big Jordan Peele person and think his movies are some of the best. I like how his movies are not only super entertaining and creative, but they usually also have an important message. I really enjoyed reading your blog and think Jordan Peele's work is definitely a collection of all of his years of experience, even working in the comedy scene.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Jordan Peele's movies, it seems as they mainly have Black individuals as the main characters and heart of the movies. I feel like this is something new and not really seen before, and something that is causing a shift in the horror community. In away, this could classify him as a Big-C creative because he is doing something in the domain that is innovative and causing a shift in the norms. Great job!
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