The first descriptive word that comes to mind with Jordan Peele’s Get Out is “unique.” It’s a different kind of flick that defies a single genre. This movie stands out from other recent horror flicks and classic comedies, because of the chances it takes and the entertainment it elicits. Producer Jason Blumhouse is known for taking chances with his films, and handing the keys to comedy maestro Peele is an extremely wise move. This movie works for several reasons, so let’s get to them.

First, let me dish the plot at you. Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) has no idea what he has in store for him when his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) takes him to meet the parents for a weekend getaway. He does alert her that taking the black boyfriend may have been a detail she wanted to release to her parents before the trip, but she thinks otherwise. They head up there, and let’s just say things get weird very quick. That’s all I’m telling you.

The big elephant in the room of this movie is race, and how it affects certain people. Instead of beating around the bush with this huge element of the plot, Peele thrusts it into the middle of the room like a lit candle. Without over-shadowing the rest of the fun of the film, it sets the tone for what you are about to see. Peele is fearless, but doesn’t need a soapbox. He mixes elements of racial stereotypes in with the standard horror and humor. 

Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener are creepy parents, but it’s more funny than gory. The minute they see Chris, the audience will know something is up, but they won’t be able to say exactly what it is. It’s dark humor at its finest, and will produce some great laughs once the rest of the family shows up. Caleb Landry Jones has a few good scenes as Rose’s brother, Jeremy, who teases Chris in a different way than normal. When more relatives show up, it just gets more weird and also something else– crazy.

I can’t get too far along here without mentioning LilRey Howery, who plays Chris’ trusted friend, Rod. Think of the best friend who thinks too much and warns Chris about going out to the house of your white girlfriend’s parents. Those are Rod’s words, and not mine, so take it with a grain of hilarity. Rod is a TSA agent who plays a bigger part of the story, and serves up a mix of straight comedy that balances the weirdo blend of humor that dominates the plot.