[Review] Jordan Peele's latest project 'Nope'

A film review by Hannah Pooley.

Director Jordan Peele delivers another mind-bending film this summer with his latest project Nope, which is best described as a sci-fi horror, and just like his previous films Get Out (2017) and Us (2019), Nope has plenty of thrills, humour and social commentary.

The film is set on a remote ranch in California, which is home to the Haywood siblings, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer). They run a horse training business that has been passed down through several generations, which once had a prominent name in Hollywood. They are even descendants of the jockey who appeared in the first ever moving image, created in 1878.

The Haywood siblings couldn’t be more opposite - OJ is quiet and brooding, whereas his younger sister Emerald is vivacious and unpredictable. The pair must accept that their business is failing after another rejection and OJ has already been secretly selling horses to a near by theme park, Jupiter’s Claim, which is run by former child star Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yuen). Jupe appears to be the perfect local showman, but all may not be as it seems.

OJ saw his father Otis (Keith David) die right in front of him in an ‘unexplained’ accident at the ranch several months ago and the siblings soon realise things are about to get even weirder. One night OJ sees something unnatural moving in the clouds and ‘Em’ decides that they need to capture everything on film and sell it to the highest bidder - to get the “Oprah shot!”. But is the mysterious presence a fortuitous opportunity, or something far more sinister?

Nope feels like a sustained adrenaline rush, full of jaw dropping moments and palpable tension. There is also side story to boot, set in a television sound stage in the 90’s, which will leave you contemplating over for days. The incident involves a younger Jupe on-set of the sitcom ‘Gordy’s Home!’, where his ape co-star suddenly loses control and the fall out there after. At first, this may not seem linked to the main story, but it soon becomes clear that this adds to the core themes of exploitation, spectacle and voyeurism that are central to Nope.

Like all great sci-fi and horror directors, Jordan Peele is heavily influenced by some of the iconic directors that came before him. There are more than a few Spielberg nods, including Jupe’s character who resembles the painfully deluded Mayor in Jaws (1975) and OJ discovering that the sky has begun to rain blood references the very same toe-curling moment in War of the Worlds (2005). The most obvious influence is M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2003), both share an isolated farm setting, create a sense of unspeakable dread and ultimately, both focus on grieving families fighting against all odds for survival.

Keke Palmer shines the brightest in the film as Emerald and her natural charisma and humour helps to prevent the film from feeling dour or too oppressive. Daniel Kaluuya takes on the understated role but as ever is endearing and authentic. Let’s just hope he teams up with Peele for the third time in the future. Brandon Perea, who plays Angel the ‘tech dude’, is a scene stealer and watching him become fully invested with the search for answers (at any cost) is fascinating.

Peele’s ambition and commitment for spectacle yet again has pushed the genre to new heights and it continues to prove that he is on course to be this generation’s next Tarantino or Scorsese. Nope may unashamedly be a Hollywood blockbuster, but there isn’t a cape or transforming car in sight. Original content is harder to find nowadays, and you’ll be challenged to find a film that will mesmerize you quite like this. Brilliant storytelling and spot on casting means that Nope can be enjoyed at many different levels and it will entertain and disturb you in equal measure.