Film review: Nope (15)

I wasn’t sure quite what to expect going into Nope, the third film by acclaimed director Jordan Peele.

Billed as some kind of sci-fi alien invasion film, I was perhaps thinking it’d be a more serious and sinister take on the genre.

And, while that assumption was partly accurate, I’d suggest that nobody will really be prepared for what Nope has to offer until you’ve seen it for yourself.

In short, you can expect something of a no-thrills take on what it might be like if you caught a glimpse of a flying object in the sky.

What would you do? How would you react? These are some of the questions Nope poses, but in ways that are completely fresh.

The story mostly follows Otis “OJ” Haywood Jr (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Keke Palmer), who are what Americans would call horse wranglers (professional animal handlers).

After the mysterious death of their father Otis Sr (Keith David), the pair grow apart before being brought back together at their family home when it becomes apparent that there is a UFO in their vicinity.

Naturally, the pair want proof of what they think they saw and set about trying to get footage, with Em keen to sell it to the highest bidder.

Also dragged into their UFO hunt is Brandon Perea’s Angel, who works in a local shop and sells them a host of equipment.

If that sounds kind of dull, don’t be fooled. That’s just the nuts and bolts of the plot, which offers a range of emotions throughout and delivers both comedic and gruesome threads.

Also heavily involved in proceedings is Steven Yeun’s Ricky “Jupe” Park, a child actor turned-entrepreneur who runs a Western-themed carnival near the Haywood ranch.

He’s got an incredibly traumatic past that, in this world, is highly publicised (do yourself a favour and don’t type Gordy into any search engines).

Without saying too much, his past problems shape how he behaves here and it certainly adds a fresh layer to the tension.

Nope has tremendous highs, some of the most harrowing scenes I’ve seen for a while and also manages to be something of a warped love letter to Hollywood at the same time.

Much like Peele’s past work with Get Out and Us, it’s perhaps not for everyone.

But this feels like something very different, in a good way, from a director who is at the top of his game.

Likewise, Kaluuya and Palmer are great in their respective roles and it’s enjoyable seeing Walking Dead alumni Yeun (we all liked Glenn, right?) play such a big role in a blockbuster.

Overall, if you’re a sci-fi enthusiast, this will be right up your street.

Voice Verdict: 8.5/10 (reviewed at Boston Savoy)
+ Wonderfully gruesome
+ Fresh take on a cliched genre
+ Peele flexes his muscles
+ Great cast all on strong form
+ Steven Yeun!