Nope (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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© 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Directed by: Jordan Peele
Written by: Jordan Peele
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea
Runtime: 130 min
Synopsis: Two siblings who run a California horse ranch discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above, and the owner of an adjacent theme park tries to profit from the mysterious, otherworldly phenomenon.
© 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The horror genre has grown immensely in recent years, leading to an audience increase with many viewers becoming fans of the "elevated horror" concept - once an appreciative, positive expression that quickly gained a condescending, aggressive context in the voices spread across social media. Jordan Peele became one of the most recognized filmmakers in Hollywood when he picked up this same premise and delivered two films - Get Out and Us - that won over critics and the general public - including myself - generating countless debates and multiple viewings. Expectations for Nope were high, so maybe it's partially personal fault that this third movie didn't work so well.
Starting with the positive and easiest points to praise. The performances of the entire cast are the best anyone can ask for when entering a film theater. Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah) and Keke Palmer (Lightyear) share the big screen with such captivating chemistry that the family relationship between their characters becomes one of the many engines of Nope. Peele adds a lot of humor to this movie compared to its predecessors, and perhaps surprisingly, it works flawlessly. Not only are the lightest moments extremely effective, causing a lot of laughter, but the balance between this comedic component and the elements of suspense, tension, and horror is very well achieved, with no aspect removing impact from another.
Technically, Nope is by far the most spectacular work in the filmmaker's career, in the sense that it comes very close to the visuals and overall production value of a blockbuster - budget is nearly three times Get Out and Us put together. Legend Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography is fascinating, especially in the way he films the sky and clouds. Just as Stefan Duscio manages to create impressive levels of suspense by pointing the camera at the empty space in The Invisible Man, Hoytema captures that sense of uncertainty and danger behind the clouds. On top of that, there are chasing sequences with overwhelming energy that, accompanied by Michael Abels' equally memorable score, elevate the third act quite a bit.
However, the "technical trophy" goes to the sound work. The premise of Nope forces the horror elements to have an incredibly immersive, powerful atmospheric component. It's through the sound department that the tensest, most suspenseful moments are obtained. The sounds coming from the UFO that flies above the clouds make the cinematic experience extraordinarily visceral, especially in IMAX, where you can feel the alien entity flying over our heads and around us. Tiny little details like the popping of a balloon or the neighing of a horse gain tremendous relevance as the film progresses.
© 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
All of Peele's movies are thematically rich, and Nope is no exception. In fact, this last film is, without a doubt, the one that focuses the most on its themes, leaving aside concerns with the narrative logic or even clear connections and impact between the various storylines - problem discussed below. On one hand, Peele manages to subvert expectations in an absolutely genius manner, pushing viewers to look at a UFO from a perspective never seen before in cinema and which fits brilliantly into the arcs of the protagonists. This time, the filmmaker addresses people's inability to deal with life's tragedies without turning them into a spectacle, often taking advantage of themselves if that means fame, money, or any kind of success.
In Nope, OJ (Kaluuya) and Jupe (Steven Yeun) try to move past their recent or old traumas, each dealing with these issues drastically differently. While OJ finds himself in a depression phase and tries to recover with the help of his sister, Jupe hides his trauma - developed through unbelievably shocking, unforgettable flashbacks, one of them complete with essential camera work to accompany the overwhelming display of violence - in broad daylight, creating a show inspired by this tragedy that affected him so much, but which he decides to take advantage of.
Yeun (Minari) doesn't have much screentime, but the actor makes the most of it. A subtle yet extremely powerful performance, creating a complex character that emanates the essence of the movie. However, here comes Nope's major problem. Jupe's storyline has thematic importance but does not impact the main plot or the protagonists' arcs. It's a side narrative that takes up a good portion of the total runtime, ends somewhat abruptly, and leaves viewers with many unanswered questions, with most of the answers being abstract and interpretive instead of helping to understand other concrete points of the story.
Simply put, Jupe and his narrative could be removed from Nope, and what happens with the protagonists throughout the various acts would still occur with minor, insignificant changes. However, this removal would leave the film stripped of its central theme, leaving it with a much poorer context and, taking into account the other qualities and issues, it would be a much bigger disappointment than just receiving a movie that simply doesn't reach the level of the previous two. In the end, it turns out to be a risk that Peele is known for taking, and truth be told, it's one of the reasons why viewers will hardly leave the theater without wanting to discuss what they've just watched.
© 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Another point that contrasts with the audiovisual spectacularity of the entire film is the UFO design during the third act. Nope contains genuinely intense sequences, leaving your legs shaking and your eyes glued to the screen. During the first two acts, the moments with the UFO get truly scary, but the last half hour holds a visual twist that causes more weirdness than awe. It's not a CGI issue but rather a somewhat… questionable, confusing design choice. In addition to this, Peele also overuses the abrupt cuts to a black screen, inadvertently removing the impact of compelling scenes.
Personally, the family relationship between the siblings and the difference in the father's treatment of each other carries enormous emotive potential that remains unexplored. Nope takes some time to demonstrate these discrepancies and justifies why OJ and Em are the way they are and why they have distinct motivations. Still, given how the film progresses and the third act plays out, Peele could have made better use of the phenomenal actors at his disposal to create a much stronger emotional component.
Obviously, it's always tricky to affirm that one movie is better or worse than another. We all have our personal preferences, and sometimes all it takes is a specific theme to resonate with our lives a bit more to elevate one of the films tremendously. The truth is that we must put aside the incessant need to compare everything we watch and (try to) really enjoy the movie we choose to see. Nope deserves as much attention as Get Out and Us. Prioritize thinking about the latest film and forming a solid opinion before moving on to the inevitable comparison process. One more piece of advice: avoid, at all costs, all trailers. These show too much.
© 2022 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Final Thoughts
Nope contains extraordinarily immersive technical elements, but the thematic focus raises narrative issues. Jordan Peele takes full advantage of Hoyte van Hoytema's phenomenal cinematography and Michael Abels' memorable score to create a spectacle worthy of the big screen, but it's the sound production that really elevates the movie to that level. Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun are exceptional, but the latter is tied to an extremely thematic storyline - immensely rich - with little to no impact on the main plot, leaving countless questions unanswered and a divided audience while still affecting the overall pacing. Humor is surprisingly effective, and the moments of suspense and tension deliver what viewers most desire. A film that deserves multiple viewings and will generate endless debates.
