Editor’s note: Spoilers ahead.
During quarantine, I finally mustered up the courage to leave behind my anti-scary movie ideals and watch my first horror movie, Jordan Peele’s 2019 thriller “Us.”
I was immediately hooked when I first read the plot summary, which revolves around a family facing a sudden attack by masked killers. Sounds like a typical home invasion movie, right? But wait, there’s a twist: The killers look the same as each of the family members. So naturally, my curiosity got the best of me as I just had to find out what happened next.
I ended up getting a lot more than I bargained for — after finishing the movie, I was left huddled against my twin sister while the credits rolled, neither of us daring to move.
There are so many aspects of this movie that set it apart from other horror movies, but one main element is how Peele twists a basic horror concept to convey a much deeper message. The ultimate meaning behind “Us” is that we are our own worst enemy: While we live in fear of those around us, we don’t take into account how the deepest monsters are created within ourselves. This concept is brilliantly executed in a much more literal way, as the killers that look identical to the family members turn out to be a botched government experiment called “tethers” who live underground mimicking their human counterparts and are unable to speak, resorting to making grunting noises as a form of communication.
Peele does a phenomenal job in revealing the connection between the family and their counterparts, showing how although the tethers experience the same lives as their human counterparts, their lifestyle is much more brutal. For example, while the main character, Adelaide, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, her underground tether, Red, went through a gruesome labor and gave birth to a “monster.”
Additionally, the tethers are forced to copy their counterparts’ every move but in a much more violent, inhumane manner. The comparison between the two are shown through vertical pan shots between life above ground versus the tethered life underground. For example, while people above ground are shown eating food and chatting happily, their tethers are then shown eating raw meat ravenously while making animalistic sounds. This contrast can also be seen as a representation of the upper and lower classes of society, and raises a chilling question: If we also lived under harsh, inhumane conditions, would we also become tether-like?
The concept of the “tethered” represents all of humanity’s dark characteristics, such as violence and ferality. No matter how much we try to conceal them, they will always resurface. The binding between humans and their tethers is symbolized through the tethers’ weapon of choice: a pair of scissors, two identical blades permanently bound together.
Another noteworthy element of the movie is its soundtrack. Its most popular song is a remix of Luniz’s 90’s hit “I Got 5 On It,” titled “The Tethered Mix.” Luniz’s song is first shown in its original form at the beginning of the film when the family is introduced on a road trip to Adelaide’s hometown. The catchy melody and memorable lyrics effectively set up the family dynamic and start the movie off on a positive note.
As the movie progresses, however, the musical score shifts toward a darker tone to match with the gradual horrors that are revealed. After playing in the beginning, “I Got 5 On It” is eventually remixed with an original score composed by Michael Abels, and it is an eerie piece with various types of sounds that are meant to frighten the viewer and make them feel uneasy. When it is combined with the slowed version of Luniz’s song, it manages to turn a popular, upbeat hip-hop classic into a certified horror movie sensation.
While the symbolism and soundtrack all contribute to the brilliance of “Us,” the most crucial factor that made the movie beyond terrifying was the actors’ performance in their roles. While all the family members do an amazing job of playing dual parts as their tethers, Lupita Nyong’o, who plays both Adelaide and Red, steals the show as she nails the task of alternating between a paranoid, protective mother and a deranged, inhumane woman. Nyong’o was also nominated as Best Actress for the movie at the Academy Awards.
Additionally, at the end of the movie (MAJOR SPOILER WARNING), it is revealed through a flashback that Adelaide was really Red the whole time, and that she had forcefully switched places with the real Adelaide and left the underground while she comfortably assimilated into Adelaide’s real human family. As viewers try to process this sudden discovery, it is also interesting to look back on the movie and watch as “Adelaide” slowly becomes more beastly throughout the movie while protecting her “family” from the tethers.
This subtle yet powerful performance by Nyong’o not only enhances the entire movie but also makes the rewatch much more fascinating as viewers try to look for signs of “Adelaide’s” true identity. An example of Peele’s masterful foreshadowing of the plot twist is how Adelaide’s clothes gradually get soaked in blood — becoming redder and redder, matching her real name.
Although the film is definitely not for the weak-hearted, “Us” is tastefully made and has so many hidden layers that I would highly recommend it for those looking for a horror movie that offers more than cheap jumpscares. But be warned: It will make you scared of your own reflection.
