I dont know about yall, but Jordan Peeles “Us” had me in deep thought hours, even days after seeing the film. The many debates and theories about the film that flooded timelines added another ah-ha moment, or a youre big trippin to the debate of the films underlying meaning and or purpose. Jordan Peele FINALLY opens up about the film if you havent seen the film yet and hate spoilers, this article isnt for you!
When speaking about the films ending, he told The Empire Podcast, This movies about maybe the monster is you. Its about us, looking at ourselves as individuals and as a group. The protagonist in the movie is the surrogate for the audience, so it felt like at the end of the day, I wasnt doing my core theme any justice if I wasnt revealing that we have been the bad guy in this movie,” he said. Weve been following the villain. I say villain lightly because I think there are many experiences of the film, and I think a lot of people go through a question of what is good and evil? Does that even exist? Both characters are lovable and terrifying, based on the lives theyve led theyve just sort of inverted the paths.
Do yall remember that look Jason gave Adelaide at the end of the film? There have been countless theories about the truth behind the look, and Jordan says, Adelaide and Jason sharing that moment at the end, Im purposefully leaving it a bit vague as to what exactly he knows or how far hes come in figuring out what, if anything, hes figured out. I think the little smile she gives him is a lot of things. I think its a connection to the evil smile she once had as a little girl, but also a sort of understanding that her family unit was stronger from this experience.
He also touched on the nature vs. nurture debate:
I think one of the questions thats raised is privilege, and the neglect that sort of presumption of deserved privilege requires. And when people are on the other side of it, when people have received the rough end of the nurture argument, and they rebel or act in violence or commit crimes on that side, is that evil or is that circumstance?
Lastly, if you saw the film, you know it is packed with puzzles from the very beginning. He reflects on the opening scene, mentioning the girl with scissors, cutting the paper dolls and how it ties in with the ending:
That was an intentional reflection, seeing the girl with her scissors cutting the paper dolls while watchingeverything that shes gonna use in her expression and her journey at the end of the film is kind of in there, in that scene somewhere The muzak thats playing over the Hands Across America commercial is Le Fleurs, the song that we kick in full in our final Hands Across America.
Us raked up a whopping $70 million during its opening weekend more than double what Get Out brought in during its opening weekend. If you had to vote, would you say Jordan is two for two with his films?! Lets chat, Roomies!
TSR STAFF: Chantel Kelli! @_popchanny!
