Nope movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Nope

This mystery horror movie was released in theaters on July 22, 2022 and is now available to stream online.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hours 10 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B-

IN A NUTSHELL:

There’s been a lot of buzz about this movie, so I was excited to see it. Some are even calling Jordan Peele the next M. Night Shyamalan. He wrote AND directed the movie. The story is fairly simple, yet packs a punch once the action finally hits. It’s about a small town in inland California that witnesses a chilling spectacle.

THINGS I LIKED:

Daniel Kaluuya is such a versatile actor and deserving of his Oscar nomination for his work in Get Out.
I really liked Keke Palmer in this role. Everyone else in the cast did a great job, including Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.
The movie takes place in Agua Dulce, California. The home and ranch were created specifically for the movie. Apparently, Jordan Peele liked the area because so many set designers and crew members that work in Hollywood live out there.
There’s a quote at the beginning of the movie from the book of Nahum in the Old Testament. The story in the Bible is about how God will “make spectacles” of the people of the city of Nineveh because of their wickedness. If you’re familiar with the scriptures, you’ll see some similarities in this movie.
This is the first horror film in history to be filmed with IMAX cameras!
If you’re a fan of the movie Akira, you’ll see some respectful nods to scenes in that film, which is one of Jordan Peele’s favorites.
Did you know Fry’s Electronics went out of business? I didn’t! We had a gigantic one here in Las Vegas where I live, and it was really cool. Too bad. The store is featured in the movie but closed before the movie’s release.
I love it when directors include lots of details and visual cues for audiences. For example, in this movie, you’ll see thematic images in the sky, popping balloons, old-timey record players, and cowboy motif to contrast with the space alien/creature.
The light humor is always welcome.
There are so many night scenes that are filmed really well. Great job with cinematography!
Similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, you’re often shown only part of a scene to increase tension and intrigue. The camera often moves slowly as it pans a scene but then suddenly transitions into another scene, leaving you wondering what happened.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie is VERY slow-moving. Not much “happens” for an entire hour and 20 minutes!
Is this a horror or sci-fi thriller or psychological drama or social commentary or all of the above?
There are some plot holes that remain unanswered.
This is one of those movies where you can run to the restroom several times or even doze off and not really miss anything for large swatches of time.
You could easily tell that the chimpanzee wasn’t a real animal but motion capture.
There are some flashbacks that might confuse viewers.
There are plenty of interesting connections, but they’re often so subtle that audiences won’t get them.
No end-credit scene.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Violence
Profanity and lots of F-bombs
Blood and gore
A female character smokes a lot
A vicious monkey kills people.
High dead body count
Blood rain and poop

THEMES:

Jordan Peele described a big theme in the movie as “addiction to spectacle”
Wonder
Family
Legacy
Trying to control nature and animals
Trying to profit from spectacles
Nature photography

INTERESTING LINES:

* “What if I told you that today you’ll leave here different. I’m talking to you. Right here, you are going to witness an absolute spectacle.” – Ricky “Jupe” Park

“What’s a bad miracle? They got a word for that?” – OJ Haywood
* The money shot. Undeniable proof of aliens on camera. The Oprah shot.” – Emerald Haywood