With only two movies under his belt and Nope on the horizon, Jordan Peele has proven himself to be one of the most fascinating voices within the horror genre. And if you had said that seven or eight years ago, most people would’ve thought you were crazy. But even when he was best known for the hilarious sketch comedy show Key and Peele, Jordan proved very capable of combining surreal dark humor with unnerving imagery.
Although we knew the man was very talented, it’s safe to say no one was quite prepared for the impact his debut feature, Get Out, would have, not just on horror fans, but the cinematic landscape at large. Socially relevant, morbidly funny, and consistently terrifying, the film became an instant classic upon its release, before culminating at the Academy Awards with four Oscar nominations and one win for Peele’s ingenious, layered screenplay. Following that up would be no easy feat, but Peele was up for the challenge with another clever, haunting horror effort, Us, which introduced a fresh new spin on the home invasion sub-genre. While maybe not quite as universally beloved as its predecessor, Us was a box office hit and fostered a very serious fanbase, large enough to prompt debates over which film is the superior one.
And, wouldn’t you know it, that’s what we’re going to discuss right here. It’s Jordan against Peele, a tough competition. But we’re ready for this battle, hope you are too! You know what it’s time for… FACE OFF!
This episode of Face Off is written by Eric Walkuski, narrated by Shawn Knippelberg, and edited by John Nguyen. But don’t let us have the final word — tell us in the comments which social thriller is your pick — Get Out or Us?