Following “Get Out” and “Us,” Oscar® winner Jordan Peele brings us his latest creation. Our JP gives his thoughts on “NOPE,” a film starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun.
Nope
(Universal Pictures)
- Directed by Jordan Peele
- Written by Jordan Peele
- Produced by Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper
- Starring Daniel Kaluuya. Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun
- Cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema
- Edited by Nicholas Monsour
Studio Synopsis:
Oscar® winner JORDAN PEELE disrupted and redefined modern horror with “Get Out” in 2017 and then “Us” in 2019. Now, he reimagines the summer movie with the expansive new horror epic, “Nope,” a dark pop nightmare of uncanny science fiction and 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.
The film reunites Peele with Oscar® winner DANIEL KALUUYA (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah), who is joined by KEKE PALMER (Hustlers, Alice) and Oscar® nominee STEVEN YEUN (Minari, Okja) as residents in a lonely gulch of inland California who bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.
Nope is situated just outside of Los Angeles, in Southern California’s arid and rambling Santa Clarita Valley, where siblings OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer), have inherited a horse ranch from their industry-legend father, Otis Haywood Sr. (Emmy winner KEITH DAVID; 21 Bridges, Crash), carrying the torch of his craft as animal wranglers for film and television. It’s a tough business, and despite their skills and the artistry of their profession, OJ and Emerald face financial challenges and the heartbreak inherent to a trade where livestock is the talent. Adjacent to the Haywood ranch sits Jupiter’s Claim, a family-fun theme park and petting zoo predicated on the white-washed history and aesthetics of the California Gold Rush, owned and operated with evangelical pride by Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun), a former child star who is saddled with a tabloid-tragic backstory that he has spent a lifetime trying to escape.
OJ and Emerald begin observing unexplained phenomena on their vast ranch that leads them down an obsessive rabbit hole—plotting attempts to capture the mystery on camera. The hijinks of their quest for documentation, through increasingly elaborate and dangerous set-ups, puts at risk the only thing they truly have: the hard-earned business of their late John Henry-esque father, who has left them in his long shadow. Things escalate, as the siblings enlist the expert help of Fry’s Electronics store employee Angel Torres (BRANDON PEREA; The OA, American Insurrection), and acclaimed cinematographer Antlers Holst (MICHAEL WINCOTT; Hitchcock, Westworld), who is on the cusp of retirement. As their efforts, and hubris, cross a point-of-no-return, ratcheting the stakes to terrifying consequences, our heroes are drawn straight into the eye of an irreversible storm. The result is an expansive horror-spectacle with an intimate and emotionally complex core.
“Nope” is written, produced and directed by JORDAN PEELE and produced by IAN COOPER p.g.a. (Us, Candyman) for Monkeypaw Productions. The film’s executive producers are ROBERT GRAF (Bombshell, No Country for Old Men, True Grit) and WIN ROSENFELD (Hunters, BlacKkKlansman).
J.P.’s Take
There is an air of mystery that surrounds a Jordan Peele production and for good reason. To our bewilderment, the trailers for “NOPE” were perplexing and shrouded in secrecy.
“NOPE” certainly left many fans scratching their heads as to its true nature. Usually, I don’t fall for the hype as I have been disappointed in the past with films claiming to be hair-raising experiences. Yet, I’ve learned my lesson when viewing Peele’s gripping debut film, “Get Out.” The premise was so off the wall and trippy and the ending was striking enough that it left me with a chilling uneasiness. It gained my attention and I even applauded Peele’s efforts. His second venture “Us” was less striking, yet despite lukewarm reception, it steered him towards success nonetheless. I’ve returned to witness yet another soon-to-be classic Jordan Peele output, for which I’m pleasantly surprised.
At the start of “NOPE,” suspense builds immediately, as we gaze into the aftermath of Gordy the chimp’s bloody rampage during the filming of a sitcom episode of “Gordy’s Home.” What’s unexplained here is why Gordy went “ape nuts,” or why he killed the production crew and co-stars. One thing you will notice is how strangely a shoe is standing on its heel on stage. Hmmm.
This event leaves former child star Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun) traumatized and his co-star Mary Jo Elliott (Sophie Coto) horribly disfigured. The focus shifts from that shocking moment to the Haywood family story, whose horse wrangling business is falling on hard times. An eerie atmosphere begins to permeate the scene as Otis Haywood Sr. (Keith David) and his son OJ Haywood are tending to their horses when a loud crack shoots across the sky and a shrill screech follows. Everyday objects like keys, coins, and metal items begin falling from the sky fatally striking Otis and his horse. Thus begins the hunt for a mysterious object that lurks in the clouds.
If there is anything I’ve learned about writer / director / producer Jordan Peele’s style of filmmaking is that he understands pacing and imagery quite well. From the stark shot compositions to minimalistic storytelling, to the sociopolitical situations the characters are placed in, all are well timed and set up for the shocking reveal. He pays homage to late greats such as Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick, and even tapping into Steven Spielberg territory.
“NOPE” revolves around an African-American family (the Haywoods) of horse wranglers for Hollywood, whose ancestor was the first black horse jockey to be captured on film (if you’re not sure who that is or what that’s all about, I suggest you research the name Eadweard Muybridge). OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald “Em” Haywood (Keke Palmer) are left to take care of the ranch after their father Otis Haywood Sr. died. Peele parlays this connection into them becoming the first African-American family to capture a UAP (Unexplained / Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) on film. After these strange occurrences, OJ and Em are joined by Angel Torres (Brandon Perea), an electronics technician, and eccentric director/cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott) as they hunt down the UAP.
“NOPE” also takes jabs at the social media age, where clicks and likes pay. If you’re not garnering eyeballs you’re not well received. That sentiment is expressed within the dialogue while the siblings OJ and Em go on a shopping spree for camera equipment.
Though this film isn’t totally concerned with its horror elements as it is with the big reveal, it does bear some jump fright elements that will give viewers quite a start nonetheless. One moment, in particular, is when OJ notices the lights are on in the horse stables when they shouldn’t be. He treks across the ranch to find out what’s going on and no sooner than he shuts them off, they flick right back on. From the corner of your eye, you notice a being lurking in the darkness, as OJ turns around. Then another pops out from the side of the stable and when he starts to run another pops up behind him. It’s the only truly creepy moment throughout the movie. That instance reminds me of the creatures that taunted the Hess family in the movie “Signs.” Other somewhat frightening situations are found within scenes that involve this UAP.
At times the dialogue felt muddled as some of the lines OJ spouted were almost inaudible. There are comical moments to break up the spooky tension. Much of the time was spent chasing this object with great intent…leading to some true hair-raising close encounters, as it, too, was hunting them.
Aside from the main crew, the supporting cast was kept to a minimum. Joining David, Palmer and Kaluuya are Oz Perkins (Fynn Bachman), Barbie Ferreira (Nessie), Devon Graye (TMZ reporter Ryder Muybridge), Andrew Patrick Ralston (Tom Rogan, who plays Brett Houston on “Gordy’s Home”), Eddie Jamison (Buster), Wrenn Schmidt (Jupe’s wife Amber Park), Jennifer Lafleur (Phyllis Mayberry, who plays Margaret Houston on “Gordy’s Home”), and motion capture actor Terry Notary (Gordy, a chimpanzee and star of the sitcom “Gordy’s Home”). There is surprise guest as former “Knots Landing” star Donna Mills plays Bonnie Clayton.
I’d be cheating you out of a uniquely creative and ambitious experience if I were to go into greater detail, so I’ll leave you with this: “NOPE” is the unconventional sci-fi/thriller that is best accomplished and viewed in IMAX format. I left the theater willing to go back for a second round just to capture all the nuances that I was unaware of.