GET OUT (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)
Release Date: May 23, 2016
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Video: 2.39:1 1080p Widescreen
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
THE RATINGS
The Movie Itself - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Special Features - ★ ★ ½ ✰ ✰
Overall - ★ ★ ★ ½ ✰
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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
Reviewed by Gavin King
Get Out is a lean, refreshingly-crafted good time of a movie that seamlessly mixes biting satire and politics with a well-paced, tense, and eerie horror/thriller film. It's not exactly groundbreaking stuff - it's hard to scout out a new truly instant classic horror flick like Don't Breathe these days, at least in this reviewer's opinon - but damn it all if the film isn't just baseline intriguing. Coming from Jordan Peele of Key and Peele fame (and starred in the recent feature-length comedy caper Keanu), Get Out is a lot of fun, not just by its baseline characteristics like its excellent performances but also its deeper, more rooted themes, yet none that are sacraficed at the enjoyment of the film itself.
Chris (David Kaluuya) lives a happy relationship with his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams). They've been together long enough that Rose believes it's time for Chris to meet her family at a reunion. Chris reluctantly but stoutly agrees, anxious that they will tout at him due to his race but willing to do anything for her girl. The two get into an accident on the way to the house, hitting a runaway deer, but still manage to make it safely. Chris is introduced to Rose's parents, Dean (Bradley Whitford) and Missy (Catherine Keener). They both welcome Chris humbly, with respect and hospitality. But Chris still can't shake the feeling that he's slowly but surely feeling uncomfortable. As more and more guests arrive for the rendevous, Chris gets more and more skeptical, increasingly nervous, feeling like the odd one out in a sea of white people. Little does he know the surprises and terror he's soon to be in, especially after a mysterious happening when Chris attempts to snap a picture of black Logan (LaKeith Stanfield) and orders Chris to "get out".
Get Out is an inherently odd film, and in the right ways. It's a refreshing change of pace for Jordan Peele, whose career is mainly known for comedy in his Comedy Central Key and Peele sketches and the aformentioned Keanu movie co-starring his comedy partner Keegan Michael-Key, and protrudes very promising things for the director in the near future, who is reportedly working on a new "social-thriller" in lieu of the success of Get Out. The movie pulls lots of twists, turns, shocks, and surprises that us audiences have come to expect in the genre of the horror/thriller hybrid film, but what makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd is its seamless meshing of a slick horror thrill ride with biting racial commentary. Peele crafts the film in an uncanny, mysterious sense. It's biting, it's thought-provoking, it's a bit of a thinker of a film. It's far from the typical horror jaunt - that is, in the context of films like Ouija: Origin of Evil or The Conjuring 2 - and that's particularly a good thing. It's one of the film's eye-catching strengths, and it makes for a film that's worth thinking about on the ride home.
As a, generally speaking, horror film, Get Out exceeds on most all levels. It's deliciously campy, unabashedly violent and bloody though not overtly so, and extraordinarily well-scripted. The film doesn't neccesarily shy away from the signature jump scare - there are a couple of scenes in the film which can startle the viewer out of sheer surprise - but it certainly doesn't live and breathe on the staple. For example, take the beginning of the film. During their car ride to the house for the family reunion, Chris and Rose accidentially hit a deer on the road. It flies into the woods and the car frantically pulls off onto the side of the road. It's not really a "pure" jump scare but it's definitely a shocker, one that works very well thanks to Peele's sense of urgency and skilled direction - as well as his sharp, well-written screenplay. These elements help shape what makes a stout, lean, and edgy horror jaunt, if one wants to enjoy it as that all while appreciating the film as a scathing commentary on racism at the same time.
Daniel Kaluuya, who was featured in Denis Villenuve's intriguing Sicario, brings Peele's character of Chris Washington to exceptional life. He's a perfect and natural fit for the role, and instead of penning a gimmick as casting a popular (albeit no less talented) actor for the casting credit, the slightly lesser-known Kaluuya realizes the nervousness of the film's character, the anxiety, the uneasiness. He's exactly what a horror/thriller character should be in this day and age, and portends a bunch of promise for possible roles for him in the near future. Supporting, although no less important, performances, such as Allison Williams and Rose, and Lil Rel Howery as the film's comedic relief, Rod, also deliver wonderful, comical performances. There's really a little something of everything going into the film, whether the screenplay, performances, cinematography, sound design... the list goes on. Is Get Out for everyone? No. But is it a great film? You bet.
Chris and Rose.
Chris (David Kaluuya) lives a happy relationship with his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams). They've been together long enough that Rose believes it's time for Chris to meet her family at a reunion. Chris reluctantly but stoutly agrees, anxious that they will tout at him due to his race but willing to do anything for her girl. The two get into an accident on the way to the house, hitting a runaway deer, but still manage to make it safely. Chris is introduced to Rose's parents, Dean (Bradley Whitford) and Missy (Catherine Keener). They both welcome Chris humbly, with respect and hospitality. But Chris still can't shake the feeling that he's slowly but surely feeling uncomfortable. As more and more guests arrive for the rendevous, Chris gets more and more skeptical, increasingly nervous, feeling like the odd one out in a sea of white people. Little does he know the surprises and terror he's soon to be in, especially after a mysterious happening when Chris attempts to snap a picture of black Logan (LaKeith Stanfield) and orders Chris to "get out".
Get Out is an inherently odd film, and in the right ways. It's a refreshing change of pace for Jordan Peele, whose career is mainly known for comedy in his Comedy Central Key and Peele sketches and the aformentioned Keanu movie co-starring his comedy partner Keegan Michael-Key, and protrudes very promising things for the director in the near future, who is reportedly working on a new "social-thriller" in lieu of the success of Get Out. The movie pulls lots of twists, turns, shocks, and surprises that us audiences have come to expect in the genre of the horror/thriller hybrid film, but what makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd is its seamless meshing of a slick horror thrill ride with biting racial commentary. Peele crafts the film in an uncanny, mysterious sense. It's biting, it's thought-provoking, it's a bit of a thinker of a film. It's far from the typical horror jaunt - that is, in the context of films like Ouija: Origin of Evil or The Conjuring 2 - and that's particularly a good thing. It's one of the film's eye-catching strengths, and it makes for a film that's worth thinking about on the ride home.
The guests.
As a, generally speaking, horror film, Get Out exceeds on most all levels. It's deliciously campy, unabashedly violent and bloody though not overtly so, and extraordinarily well-scripted. The film doesn't neccesarily shy away from the signature jump scare - there are a couple of scenes in the film which can startle the viewer out of sheer surprise - but it certainly doesn't live and breathe on the staple. For example, take the beginning of the film. During their car ride to the house for the family reunion, Chris and Rose accidentially hit a deer on the road. It flies into the woods and the car frantically pulls off onto the side of the road. It's not really a "pure" jump scare but it's definitely a shocker, one that works very well thanks to Peele's sense of urgency and skilled direction - as well as his sharp, well-written screenplay. These elements help shape what makes a stout, lean, and edgy horror jaunt, if one wants to enjoy it as that all while appreciating the film as a scathing commentary on racism at the same time.
Daniel Kaluuya, who was featured in Denis Villenuve's intriguing Sicario, brings Peele's character of Chris Washington to exceptional life. He's a perfect and natural fit for the role, and instead of penning a gimmick as casting a popular (albeit no less talented) actor for the casting credit, the slightly lesser-known Kaluuya realizes the nervousness of the film's character, the anxiety, the uneasiness. He's exactly what a horror/thriller character should be in this day and age, and portends a bunch of promise for possible roles for him in the near future. Supporting, although no less important, performances, such as Allison Williams and Rose, and Lil Rel Howery as the film's comedic relief, Rod, also deliver wonderful, comical performances. There's really a little something of everything going into the film, whether the screenplay, performances, cinematography, sound design... the list goes on. Is Get Out for everyone? No. But is it a great film? You bet.
GET OUT Blu-ray - Video Quality
One could look at a single frame of the Blu-ray of Get Out and instantly assume that the film was shot digitally. And they would be right. The 1080p, 2.39:1-framed presentation has all of the trademark characteristics of a digital capture, clean, glossy photography, barely any grain layer, and negligible source noise. That doesn't mean the Blu-ray looks bad. Because, it truly doesn't. It's just more focused on looking squeaky digital clean than passing for film quality. The film's color palette offers a dominant buttery yellow tone that seems to eminate from the titular outdoor exteriors the film takes place in. There's a number of outdoor tones throughout - green trees, blue skies, brown branches, and bright yellow rays of sun, all of which provide strong naturalism and believable representation. Details are nicely abundant. The digital source is home to countless textural intracacies: the typical facial pores and wrinkles, nooks and crannies around the Armitage household, grassy and leaf-filled terrain, and clothing fabrics. Black levels are nicely deep throughout the runtime of the film in nighttime scenes, especially during the film's third act. The reviewing equipment showcased no noticable compression artifacts that were prominent during the image. Get Out isn't a particularly filmic image, but it doesn't have to be in order to look good on the format, either.
GET OUT Blu-ray - Audio Quality
Get Out's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless sountrack impresses throughout the experience. It's a booming, robust track, one which not only gives the surround sound system a nice workout but also compliments the movie's storyline and events. There's a nice variety of tunes throughout - such as Childish Gambino's beat that plays during the film's opening credits or Michael Abels' mysterious soundtrack - which all provide excellent wide-spaced depth and airy presentation all-around. Action and horror elements are wonderfully beefy, with sound effects such as gunshots, horror chords, and a car crash pulsing the stage with a near-reference push and weight that's sure to test the sound sytems of most home theater owners. Ambient effects are a real treat; the 5.1 configuration is a natural at recreating atmospheres in a branch-filled forest, a family reunion inside a house congested with people talking, and the revving engine of a car on the way to the get-together, all of which envelop the listener into a seamless 360-degree experience. Dialogue is expectedly 110% clear during the film, with a flush front-center placing. Universal delivers a great, exciting lossless track for this release of Get Out.
GET OUT Blu-ray - Special Features
- Alternate Ending with optional commentary by director Jordan Peele.
- Deleted Scenes include the following with optional commentary by director Jordan Peele: Rose Hypnosis, Extended Rutherford, Badminton, Sunken Place Deer, and Detective Latoya Extended.
- Unveiling the Horror of Get Out is a featurette that describes the pitch for the film, the idea of mixing horror with satire, Jordan Peele's direction, the cast including interviews, and more.
- Q&A Discussion With Writer/Director Jordan Peele and the Cast is, as the title suggests, a Q&A with the Peele and the cast after a screening of Get Out at a movie theatre.
- Feature Commentary With Writer/Director Jordan Peele Mr. Peele delivers a rock-solid, hugely enjoyable commentary track. He dissects the film's scenes, discusses the storyline and cast, and much, much, much more. Fans and commentary buffs are going to love it.
- Alternate Ending with optional commentary by director Jordan Peele.
- Deleted Scenes include the following with optional commentary by director Jordan Peele: Rose Hypnosis, Extended Rutherford, Badminton, Sunken Place Deer, and Detective Latoya Extended.
- Unveiling the Horror of Get Out is a featurette that describes the pitch for the film, the idea of mixing horror with satire, Jordan Peele's direction, the cast including interviews, and more.
- Q&A Discussion With Writer/Director Jordan Peele and the Cast is, as the title suggests, a Q&A with the Peele and the cast after a screening of Get Out at a movie theatre.
- Feature Commentary With Writer/Director Jordan Peele Mr. Peele delivers a rock-solid, hugely enjoyable commentary track. He dissects the film's scenes, discusses the storyline and cast, and much, much, much more. Fans and commentary buffs are going to love it.
GET OUT Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation
Get Out offers a lean, intensely crafted peice of original cinema. It's not quite perfect - it's a bit slow out of the gate from its start - but there's no denying the film protrudes a one of a kind experience of meshing typical horror elements with controversial politics concerning racism. It's a star of a movie, packed with stellar performances, sharp, crisp writing, beefy sound design, and much more. A thought-provoking surprise from beginning to end, Get Out is a terrific directorial debut from Jordan Peele and I can't wait for his next "social thriller" in the year of 2019. Universal's Blu-ray compliments the film, Get Out, very well. Solid video, superb audio, and a good amount of supplements round out the package. Highly recommended.
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