Nope

2022   Universal Pictures

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hr  11min

Sci-Fi ~ Thriller

Directed bv:  Jordan Peele

Starring:  Daniel Kaluuya,  Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.

“This dream you’re chasing, where you end up at the top of the mountain, all eyes on you… it’s the dream you never wake up from.”

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES:

Oscar®-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele reimagines the summer movie with Nope, an expansive pop epic of uncanny science fiction. Following their father’s shocking death, Hollywood animal wrangler OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) begin observing unexplained phenomena on their vast Southern California ranch that leads them down an obsessive rabbit hole as they plot attempts to capture the mystery on camera. Along with a former child star turned family theme park ringmaster (Steven Yeun) who neighbors the siblings, the pair’s efforts to chase the spectacle soon bring terrifying consequences and unimaginable horror. The result is a complex social thriller that unpacks the seeds of violence, risk and opportunism that are inseparable from the romanticized history of the American West … and from show business itself.

Movie Backstories:

The Chimpanzee:

In the beginning of the movie, and later in the movie,  there are scenes where a monkey has gone rogue on a sitcom TV set. Balloons released from a box on his birthday rise up and hit the stage lights and pop, sending the primate into a fit of uncontrollable violence. He focuses on the actress playing the mother in the sitcom, and violently attacks her. This scene is based on a real life incident that happened in 2009 in Stamford, Connecticut.

Travis the chimp was raised by Sandra and Jerome Herold after purchasing him at three days old. They raised him as a human, he accompanied them everywhere. He would ride in their vehicles, buckling himself in wearing a baseball t-shirt. He could open doors with keys, dress himself, log onto a computer and look at pictures, turn on TV and use the remote, and even brushed his teeth. But you can’t take the animal out of the animal no matter how much you humanize him.

On February 16, 2009 Travis attacked and mauled Sandra’s friend Charla Nash. Already agitated that day, he lost his mind when he saw Charla holding his favorite Elmo doll in an attempt to get him to come with her back into the house. He savagely ripped into her face and tore off her hands. She survived but has had a face transplant and numerous surgeries. Part of the movie’s message is dealing with our treatment and relationship to animals in captivity. And the creature in the sky is a metaphor for the animals we try to control and humanize.

The Film Industry:

When Oj and Em are introducing themselves to the cast and crew on the Hollywood sound stage, they reference their families proud Black Heritage within the Film Industries History. It was part of Jordan Peele’s intention in this movie to raise awareness of the history and exploitation of Black Actors in The Film Industry’s History. It also alludes to The Film Industry’s exploitation of spectacle over substance and safety.

NOPE:

NOPE is an acronym for Not Of Planet Earth. It is an acronym that has been used to describe the UFO Phenomenon. It is also a reference to an Eddie Murphy bit where he talks about the difference between White people and Black people in a Horror Movie. The White people are gonna say, “Well, let’s go take a look and investigate that mysterious phenomenon.” Whereas according to Eddie Murphy, Black people are going to say ‘”NOPE! Not Me!” and run the other way. I’m with the latter group as Daniel Kaluuya says twice in the movie given the choice to investigate further……NOPE! 

COWBOYS AND ALIENS:

Reminds me of the 2011 Movie starring Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde. They both are Western Sc-Fi’s with Cowboys and Aliens and that’s where the similarity ends but I loved that movie!

The Review:

I enjoyed every minute of this movie. It does what movies are supposed to do. It makes you squeamish, it thrills you, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it makes you question things. It is a cinematic experience and journey unlike any other. I am not real familiar with Jordan Peele, although I do remember watching Get Out. I am going to have to watch his other two movies now after thoroughly enjoying this. I really like Daniel Kaluuya in this and I am a sucker for out of this world entertainment!

Highly Recommended.

Two Thumbs Up.