Nope

A subject of many a discussion before each release, Jordan Peele’s snappy film titles become self-explanatory upon viewing the final outcome. “Nope” is easily the most used word in the beloved director’s latest feature, alongside the term “spectacle” – which turns out to be the central theme explored in this summer’s highly anticipated horror extravaganza.

Otis Junior “OJ” and Emerald “Em” Haywood are descendants of the overlooked black jockey in one of the earliest sequences of moving image (The Horse in Motion). On their ranch, the family train horses for Hollywood productions, but Dad’s inexplicable passing catapults them into financial hardship. When the siblings realise that a mysterious apparition surrounding their property may have something to do with what happened to their father, they want to seize the opportunity to cash in on the situation.

Led by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, who play the Haywoods, the entire cast are spectacular as they navigate the large spectrum of style and emotion the script asks for. Steven Yeun’s take on a traumatised former child star, who yields rather than rebels against people’s image of him, is the stuff that Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor are made of.

Through an engaging and high-gear setup, Nope primarily explores a number of film genres that historically have not seen many people of colour in front of the camera, nor have they traditionally been viewed through a black filmmaker’s lens (western, science fiction, horror to an extent, even as Peele’s own filmography evidences the shift toward diversity and inclusion).

Those who wish to scratch beneath the surface will see a critical examination of humanity’s almost destructive need for entertainment and the exploitation that often goes hand in hand with it. Nevertheless, the socio-critical elements that distinguished the director’s approach in his previous films are more subtle in Nope, either despite the larger budget and scale or (more likely) because of it.

Accessible to all, Nope delivers on its promise of thrill and enjoyment for audiences across the board, and for optimal cinematic viewing pleasure will be best to see in IMAX theatres.

Selina Sondermann

Nope is released nationwide on 12^th August 2022.

Watch the trailer for Nope here: