Nope (2022) User Reviews

Good, but still misses a mark....

[PerryAtTheMovies · 6/10 · 22 July 2022]

6.7/10

While "Nope" is a visual spectacle I found that it didn't sit as well as I would've hoped when it came to the story. However, it still manages to reach its goal of entertaining on some level.

The film felt slightly long due to the first and third acts feeling fast and somewhat stuffed with a lot of goings ons while the second act felt very slow and drawn out. The long parts put me into a state of boredom, and even further than that, once the reveal of the antagonist happened, the magic and tension disappeared. Before that tension disappeared I found there was some good tension built up due to the soundtrack, but again, things fell short.

As for the horror parts, I assumed there would be more than just the ones shown in the commercial, and while there was, again a lot of the horror/magic disappeared once the antagonist was shown.

I did find the acting to be very engaging. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer each brought great energy to their roles, and the supporting actors were equally enjoyable.

Overall, a decent film, but if I could go back I would wait to see it on a cheap night. Acting was enjoyable, the cinematography was spectacular, but the story, the length of the film, and the antagonist weren't up to the par I was expecting.

Thank you for reading my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

Good for Sci Fi

[rvscript-64946 · 7/10 · 8 August 2022]

Sci Fi movies are , IMO, the most intriguing because you go to the theatre to escape. What is a better description of escape than dealing with aliens? Movie made you feel like we have a family of horse trainers that are struggling. Not only as a family but as a business. Their father's legacy, besides his children are in jeopardy. This movie touched on that well. The disconnect , IMO, was with the build up and inferences you must make in the movie. The scenes looked great and the flashbacks were clues that worked. The build up and finale fell a little flat. It did land but not a "10" or what we are trained to expect from watching previous alien type discovery movies. I did like the spaghetti western music in a certain scene. Won't ruin it for those who haven't watched. All in all a good movie. Not great. But worth my ticket because for the time the movie was on the screen , I was entertained.

Captivating but going to be a divisive experience

[tachiiderp · 8/10 · 23 July 2022]

The biggest praise I can give is the cinematography and camera work. I really enjoy looking at wide shots of landscapes and the slow or sudden movements of the camera pushing the tension and anxiety of the scene without having to rely on dialogue or even any acting.

I think the film will be divisive among its audience though. I think this is due to a couple of reasons. First, the story progression feels confusing at times to what we are used to seeing in a thriller or horror. I think labelling it as horror will automatically steer away some people while those that enjoys horror may be disappointed that it lacks enough scares to be called a horror. The trailer I feel also gives away too much and puts the film in a box that might detract viewers. Ultimately, you really have to be open-minded going to this movie. In respect to the genre, Nope really isn't a horror, but more of a blend of some sci-fi, some mystery, some comedy, and luckily, no romance.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film. I think for movie lovers this will generally be a good experience. Peele seem to focus more on our shared love for films more than sticking to a particular formula of a single genre. There are many small things you'll enjoy if you already love movies, but it will probably have a visibly different experience to a casual movie goer.

The themes of the film is also a good one, I feel. It feels like a cautionary modern fairy tale and the somewhat real dangers of chasing fame and disrespecting nature.

Jordan Peele is shaping out to be a director whose name alone will generate an audience and I would put Nope as a more captivating experience than Us, and around the same level as Get Out despite being two very different stories. His vision and creativity continues to remain highly interesting and I'm so curious to find out what he goes to work on next!

Rough cut horror/comedy has good moments

[Hallelujah289 · 6/10 · 15 April 2023]

I surmise that the idea for "Nope" came out of a clever idea for a sketch. Imagine a film where the main character says "Nope" to terrifying, unexplainable phenomena instead of rushing forward like a courageous, but dumb movie hero.

Except, bucking that trope only takes a movie so far. And that's the point where the movie "Nope" starts to unravel, when it can't adequately explain why the protagonists are sticking around.

Somewhere between halfway and three fourths of the movie, the dialogue just becomes far too cryptic to make sense of. And that's the point where the actions the protagonists are taking really needs to be clear, as it's the climax of the film.

I wished the director Jordan Peele, one half of the successful Key and Peele comedy duo, would try his hand at the horror/comedy movie genre. I believe this is his third and latest film, and the second one that most fits in that genre.

To his credit, some sequences have great cinematography, tension, and horror. And some moments are really funny. One particular sequence is both terrifying and hilarious, and best encapsulates the title "Nope," as a main character goes head to head with a massive, intimidating force and just closes his car door, and says "nope."

But overall, the horror and comedy sides do not feel totally woven together. It's like at some point budget was lost and some sequences just couldn't get follow through. And the characters had to be stretched to make up for missing plot points, or fill the moments with comedy. The writers and actors and visual effects teams are good enough so they manage it. But there is a sense of "what did I just watch" at the ending, which wasn't there with Peele's two other more finished films.

Whatever the back story is that has given "Nope" its rough landing, I still found the film enjoyable. Sometimes experimental. Mostly unpretentious and original good fun. But also, what did I just watch?

Not Sure Where Jordan Was Going

[seansoulo73 · 6/10 · 25 July 2022]

I hope we are not about to see the Shyamalan effect with Jordan Peele, where the debut film is amazing and everything that follows leaves you scratching your head. I feel like I'm on that road with Peele's body of silver screen work. "Get Out" was a masterpiece, while "Us" jus didn't do it for me and now "Nope!"

Keke Palmer did her thing in the role she played (she is the star of this movie for sure) and Daniel kept up with a good performance in his own right, but the film itself was something outta the Twilight Zone. More of a sci-fi thriller than a horror flick, it had too many holes and unanswered questions for my liking. Peele's approach to filmmaking is amazing, much like Shyamalan, but the stories, like Shyamalan's are starting to fall short of being good films.

Jordan may have dreamt this story and woke up at 5am and jotted down every detail he could remember. And like our weird dreams, they never make any sense and we forget a lot of the details by the time we wake up! Nope was like one of those weird a... dreams!

YEP (spoilers after a warning)

[FeastMode · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

Original, creative, creepy and suspenseful. Jordan Peele continues to show off his skills as a director. From a technical perspective, this is top-notch across the board. The way sound is strategically used is masterful. My only downsides with the movie are the comedy not always working (not as much as with Get Out), and it taking a little while to get going. But after really disliking Us, I see this as a major bounce-back.

I strongly recommend avoiding trailers or any plot details. I went in knowing absolutely nothing other than "Jordan Peele." Going through the story as it unfolds and discovering what it's about is such a fun experience. I also recommend seeing it in IMAX since some scenes have an expanded aspect ratio. If not IMAX then any premium screen that will enhance the sound and images.

EDIT: I liked Nope even better on second viewing. I noticed so many little details as well as repeated references to the main theme, resulting in a much better flow. And I didn't feel any slowness early in the movie like I did the first time, possibly because I was expecting it and knew it was worth it. Changing rating from 7 to 8 stars. (2 viewings, opening Thursday IMAX 7/21/2022, IMAX 8/3/2022)

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

This movie reminds me a lot of Signs. The way the suspense levels are through the roof in the horror moments. The way the movie is so confined with a small cast, yet feels huge. And the way various story elements and details come together at the end, with credit going to good writing. After making this connection, I found out that Jordan Peele specifically said Signs was one of his inspirations for Nope.

Once I realized the movie is about aliens, I started wondering what direction they would go for the look of the aliens. We've seen so many versions that it's difficult to come up with something new or creative. But instead of the typical humanoid creatures or something like Zerg from StarCraft or Starship Troopers, he goes in a completely different direction with the entire UFO being a single alien being. Talk about thinking outside the box. When it opens up during the climax, it looks incredible.

Also, I was so happy/impressed when I realized the climax would take place during daytime so we could see everything.

The part with the chimp does not seem vital to the plot (at first glance, at least). This would normally be a downside, but I think there are two reasons it works. One is that the scene is unbelievably creepy and jaw-dropping. And two, it does connect to a couple themes. It parallels the alien behavior with predatory tendencies, being territorial, and not looking it in the eyes. And the irony of Jupe doing the same thing as an adult as he did as a child, dealing with a beast he couldn't control, once again resulting in disaster.

There is probably a lot more to be explored. I look forward to watching it again and then checking out some explained/explored videos on youtube.

EDIT: I am writing this before watching any explored videos. On second viewing, I noticed the theme of not being able to control a beast is touched on throughout the movie, even as early as the commercial shoot. Same with the theme of spectacle/wanting to be seen. I didn't make all the connections the first time.

I originally didn't think much of the shoe standing up. But they show it a few times, intentionally. And I don't believe there is evidence of anything supernatural. So that got me thinking. And I have a theory.

The probability of a nickel landing on its side is estimated to be one in 6,000. It seems almost impossible. But if you drop a nickel repeatedly, it's not only probable, it's nearly inevitable. As number of drops goes to infinity, probability of landing on its side goes to 100%.

If we assume that's what the shoe represents, how does it connect to the movie? Apply that same logic to the theme of not being able to control a beast. No matter how well-tamed, no matter how long you've built trust, no matter how unlikely it is for something to cause it to become ultra aggressive, on a long enough timeline it becomes an inevitability.

I could be way off, but it's cool to think about.

Almost but not quite

[AfricanBro · 6/10 · 22 July 2022]

It starts off a little humorous, thought the directing was great to take it from there into a more tense, on edge film. I however don't think this is horror, more of sci-fi but unlike sci-fi movies this one didn't really expose much of the otherworldly parts of it, which was great in the beginning because it built up suspense but since we don't learn much about the "alien" you're left with more questions than answers which annoyed me. Thought the premise of the movie was going to be hard to pull off since it's set in the middle of nowhere but they did. Story telling is good and paced well, I love how they added the chimpanzee story arc but I'm disappointed that was the most gruesome part in the movie. You don't get to see how the alien got there, why OJ somehow figured it's territorial, what is actually happening inside the ship, or how Jupe and his wife's circus ruckus never stirred up more attention on previous occasions.... in short, it lacks depth and I think it would have elavated it from just a good movie to a great one.

The performances were amazing, loved how calm Kaluya's character was, felt realistic for me. It's often said black people don't usually feature in horrors because once something's fishy we dip, but if we didn't I think this was a more realistic take by the whole cast, upped the rating for me. Peele's concept and directing was great, it was great to see a horror that's not leaning on jump-scares. But as I said this isn't a horror, not in the typical sense of making you scared to turn off the lights to sleep; but it's the nearest genre you could put it in other than sci-fi. I think movies like this, or The invisible man, Ready or not, Midsommer, Fresh, maybe even Us aren't really horrors and a sub genre should be found; because you expect to be scared when you watch a horror so it feels mis-categorized. Nope felt more like a psychological sci-fi thriller or drama than actual horror.

There was a good movie in here, it just needed more development and depth to go along with everything else the movie did right, it's like when you have a brilliant idea but don't think it through in detail so it just comes off shallow.

Loved it.

[stephanandrethomas · 9/10 · 1 October 2022]

Excellent film.

The acting was brilliant (im a big fan of Daniel Kaluuya anyway as i feel he is one of the better actors out there, ive never seen him in a bad film/show and he always delivers) The characters were believable and entertaining, the setting was perfect for this film and the cinematography is incredible.

Most of all I love the unique take on the "UFO" rather than being piloted, it IS the alien.

I don't understand the negativity towards this film on other comments, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and believe everything shown was necessary and did all tie in with the characters development and the plot.

Don't be a sheep watch it yourself.

Eight things I love about Nope

[RebelPanda · 7/10 · 2 August 2022]

1. Commentary on exploitative social media accounts that strive for the most clicks regardless of who they negatively impact.

2. Keke Palmer's eccentric performance as Emerald. She should be in way more movies.

3. Daniel Kaluuya's deadpan one liners.

4. Rewatch value, there is build up to each twist and shocking moment. Mysterious and ambiguous scenes become scarier after learning context.

5. Foreshadowing: it is absolutely everywhere. Sometimes done subtly, other times obviously.

6. Subtle details; highly detailed set, script, and outfits, down to the logo on one of the main character's shirt.

7. Sound effects. It goes beyond typical horror noise cues, using unique sounds to build-up scares. The blood curdling screams loudly echoing as the creature flies by are terrifying.

8. Akira motorcycle shot. Thank you Jordan.

That's a 'nope' from me, dawg!

[vert2712 · 5/10 · 22 July 2022]

The way most critics are raving about "Nope" makes me wonder if I've been the victim of an elaborate prank where I was shown a different film than what they have been watching.

Because "Nope" is, at best, adequate -- a watchable sci-fi action picture that, if it weren't for the fact that it's directed by an Oscar-winning red-hot director and has a budget of roughly $60 mil and stars an Oscar-winning actor, would not be out of place among the myriad of B-movies that litter the virtual shelves of Netflix or Prime Video.

First, the good stuff: the film looks gorgeous. Lots of beautiful shots of cloudy skies and spectacular night and day vistas. It was shot on Imax cameras by a master (Hoyte Van Hoytema, Christopher Nolan's regular cinematographer), and it shows. And the dark, foreboding imagery helps Jordan Peele build some effective tension during the first half of the film, when the audience (and the film's characters) still don't know exactly what's going on and what exactly is threatening them.

But then the film devolves into a mess where everyone (including the main antagonist) behaves illogically because that's what the plot requires them to do in order to hit all the subtextual marks that Jordan Peele wants them to deliver. And therein lies the biggest problem with the film: it's a very unsubtle 'message' movie, and Jordan Peele, really wants you to get what he's trying to say, to the point of driving the point home with a hammer, over and over.

Without going into spoiler territory, the film's plot is a not-so-veiled metaphor for the state of entertainment in our society. All the characters have some sort of connection to the entertainment industry in some form and/or are meant to symbolize a facet of it: the protagonists are two African American siblings, one of whom runs the family business, a ranch providing horses for Hollywood movies; the other is a wannabe performer/entertainer.

Their business is dying: animals are being supplanted by CGI, and horses can be unpredictable on set and hard to control, and therefore replaceable. Any parallel with the perception of people of color in the same industry is of course not accidental. Then you have the kid who works at (now defunct) Fry's Electronics and is all about digital videos and streaming content. His name is Angel, probably because calling him YouTube or TikTok would have been a tad too transparent. Then there's the the grizzled, obsessed old filmmaker (played by Michael Wincott, your go-to guy when you want someone who looks gruff and curmudgeonly, down to the 'I just swallowed drain cleaner' hoarse voice) who is disillusioned with the drivel he's forced to shoot nowadays and is ready to roll with his trusty hand-cranked non-digital film camera and to sacrifice everything to the altar of cinematic art.

We also have the Asian cowboy slash circus entertainer (Steven Yeun) who suffered a traumatic event as a child actor which left him with deep unhealed psychological scars simmering under the surface, which all stereotypical ex-child actors are supposed to have and which of course will lead him to make horribly wrong, life-changing decisions. And, in what is the most transparent cypher in film packed to the gills with them, you have a TMZ reporter that is not even given a name or a face: he just shows up at some point on an electric motorcycle wearing a reflective helmet (get it? He's just mirroring society's obsession with capturing celebrities' life! Hoo boy!) and expensive cameras. And of course we all know how Hollywood feels about paparazzi, so if you can't guess what's going to happen to him, you will love this film unironically.

Nobody in the film behaves the way a regular human being would. They do things because Jordan Peele needs them to deliver a message to the audience, logic and common sense be damned. I'm not even sure the film takes place in the real world, since all the events seem to involve only this microcosm of characters and nobody else. It's like a Beckett play, except that the stage is a vast valley in the California desert inhabited only by a handful of people and the outside world doesn't exist and is somehow unaware of the very visible and bizarre events taking place.

Imagine if Jaws took place in the California desert and the shark had a message against Hollywood and showbiz consumerism painted in bright neon letters on its side, and Brody, Quint and Hooper were replaced by much less competent characters whose purpose is not to kill the man-eating menace but to take pictures of it so they can sell it to Oprah and become rich, and you'll have a pretty good idea of the basic plot of "Nope" (and the Jaws comparisons don't end there -- you'll see what I mean at the end of the film).

As a scary movie, Nope is pretty devoid of actual scares (Peele has to resort to the oldest trick in the book, the 'jump scare', in a couple of occasions). It's also surprising tame in the blood and gore department (most of the carnage takes place offscreen).

The talented cast does what they can with the material. Daniel Kaluuya's OJ is nicely understated: a no-nonsense guy who seems to react to most of the craziness around him with a shrug or by saying "nope" (of course). Kiki Palmer is fine as his sister, though in typically cliched fashion, she suddenly switches from "shrieking, terrified woman" to "resourceful heroine" when the plot demands it. But they can't save the film because they have to go through the motions of a plot that becomes increasingly preposterous (the plan that they devise in the third act makes no sense the more you think about it) Nope continues the downward trajectory of Jordan Peele after Get Out and Us. The former, still a modern masterpiece, succeeded because the metaphorical subtext didn't get in the way of the plot: even if you completely ignored the clear references to slavery and race relationships, it still worked perfectly as a basic thriller.

Us was where we started getting hints Peele's ambition might exceed his grasp (it was deliciously creepy and well executed, but the basic concept of a race of "alternate" underground dwelling doppelgangers was too bonkers and forced to work) And now we have Nope, where nothing makes sense outside of its function as a delivery system for Peele's criticism of Hollywood, its treatment of minorities, and our society's total dependence on entertainment at all costs.

I've seen critics make favorable comparison between Jordan Peele and Steven Spielberg (mainly due to the very evident influence of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the aforementioned "Jaws), but a more apt comparison would be with M. Night Shyamalan, another director who hit the jackpot early in his career with a terrific movie and then proceeded to squander his potential with increasingly ambitious and less effective muddled message films.

In many ways, Nope is Jordan Peele's "Signs". Still enjoyable in parts, but too self-conscious for its own good and a far cry from the promise shown with Get Out.

Poignant commentary on the exploitation of animals in the entertainment industry, disguised as an alien flick

[missmeghanerin · 9/10 · 14 August 2022]

My first impression of "Nope," was a modern day equivalent to cult B-list horror movies such as Tremors, or Lake Placid. I read a lot of reviews before the movie, and I didn't know what to expect. I left satisfied, but not WOWed. The cinematography was appealing and expertly stylized, the actors were phenomenal, and it was entertaining, but I wasn't 100% sure what all the story lines had to do with one another! One day later I pieced it all together, and my opinion of the film completely changed.

What at first seems like a cinematic mash up of several genres, which for the sake of entertainment, could be considered somewhat successful, is really a highly cohesive commentary on the exploitation of animals for entertainment, and the perils of underestimating the brute power of nature.

The film opens with an off-screen sound bite from a sitcom filming gone wrong. The sitcom opens with a birthday party scene for title character/family member, "Gordy" the chimp. A loud bang ensues (which we later learn is a helium balloon popping), and as a result Gordy attacks the cast. The scene opens to reveal the set of the show, and the bloodied, terrified monkey, who proceeds to resume his attack on the injured cast, pause, and turn to face the camera, breaking the 4th wall. This narrative has received the most negative attention from reviewers, but in fact, sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

Breakaway, Nope begins. We are on a horse ranch in California run by the Haywood family, who specialize in horse training/handling for the film industry. Our main character, OJ (no, not that OJ), is quickly witness to his father's death via freak accident, a strange hail storm of metallic objects falling from the sky, and written off as a cargo plane accident. In the subsequent scenes we are introduced to OJ's dynamic sister, Emerald Haywood, played to perfection by Keke Palmer, and expert filmographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott).

We are also introduced to Jupe Park, played by Walking Dead famous Steven Yeun. Jupe runs a small-time theme park neighbouring the Haywood farm, and is revealed to have been a former child star. In fact, the same child who starred on the ill-fated set of the Gordy show, and witnessed the massacre that ended the sitcom's run. Jupe and OJ have a business relationship, wherein OJ sells horses to Jupe for his attractions/shows in order to keep his failing family farm afloat. OJ indicates that he might be in a position to start to buy back some of his horses, and Jupe vaguely deflects the conversation.... this seems small but is important.

After a somewhat laborious set up, we are finally "officially" introduced to the villain of the film... an unidentified flying object (aka. UFO) focused on the seeming abduction of the Haywood farm horses. OJ witnesses this strange occurrence and quickly appraises his sister of the situation. Ever the millennial hustler stereotype, Emerald is quick to subside her horror in favour of profit. The siblings agree to extend all of their finances in order to achieve a lucrative "shot" of the UFO, securing themselves financially. Obviously a trip to Best Buy (though in the flick it's called something else), is in order. This is where we are introduced to techy dream boat/casual alien enthusiast, Angel Torres (Brandon Perea). Angel quickly becomes part of the Haywood gang, hell bent on capturing video footage of this phenomenon for profit.

Breakaway to Jupe's theme park, where we learn that not only is Jupe aware of this extraterrestrial presence, but he is in fact actively baiting this entity with the horses he is buying from the Haywood farm, as a means of creating an attraction for his business. Decked out in full western regalia, adorned with UFOs in rhinestones, Jupe treats his audience of 40 people to a spectacle unseen before... a true alien encounter. Jupe is able to schedule these shows by releasing the horses as "bait," and therefore believes he has "trained" the vessel, prime for capitalization. However, the encounter goes awry, and after the baited horse refuses to leave his paddock, the entire audience and staff are "sucked up" by the alien entity.

This is where the script flips. The members of the audience are not being abducted, they are being eaten. The alien vessel is not a vessel at all, but an extraterrestrial life form.

OJ witnesses the event, and is able to escape and rescue his horse, Lucky, in the process. With his newfound understanding of the entity, OJ is able to use his knowledge and respect of animals to put aside his monetary motivations for capturing the creature on film, and subsequently save his family and farm.

This is where I'm leaving off this review, because it's already full of spoilers, and truly the rest is inconsequential.

NOPE is genius.

What at first glance comes across as randomness and pastiche, is actually a well crafted narrative. The message is subtle and lingering, but consistent once defined. Packaged with tons of personality and style, it's a movie that can be consumed for entertainment value or intellectual provocation, and for that I gave it a 9!

A great first two acts let down by the third

[josiahliljequist · 7/10 · 24 July 2022]

* First off, I want to commend Peele for giving the movie heaping spoonfuls of atmosphere. From the opening chatter of the sitcom turning into unknown shrieks and a chimp with blood-dripping lips, you feel the unease. In fact, every scene with Gordy is terrifying and unsettling, shot to perfection with slow tracking and set shots. It's not completely without rhyme or reason (combined with the grasshopper, but I'll get to that in a minute), but it's just out of left field enough to really jar you.

Then there's the cinematography. Jordan Peele once again takes his time with the shots, establishing location and atmosphere as things not peripheral, but essential to the movie. Often the camera will pan when most directors would choose a cut. The result? Scenes that are allowed to breathe and really stick in one's mind. There are several scenes that I think will stick with me for years, including the house of blood, Gordy, and a great Signs-esque fakeout in the barn. Even the red herrings are given time. The landscapes and night scenes are beautifully shot.

Next, characterization is good. While Daniel Kaluuya plays rather a stoic role as OJ, Keke Palmer steals the show as his sister, Emerald. Right from the get-go you feel her vivacious, carefree vibe, and the movie takes time to show quirks like her randomly complimenting a stranger and impulsively tossing a sour patch kids candy in the shopping cart.

Then there's the sci-fi references that Peele makes in the movie. (Honestly, he said he was inspired by a handful of movies, so I had my eyes peeled. Get it?) The security camera scene is faintly reminiscent of the baby monitor scene in Signs, the twister sucking up people is referencing Wizard of Oz (in addition to an overt reference about ruby slippers on the cell phone), and perhaps the most obvious one, a Jurassic Park rainstorm reference during the thunderstorm alien attack (except it's where the horse go?) One more film that I don't think Peele mentioned referencing but came to mind is Hitchcock's The Birds-the fear of animals turning on humans for no apparent reason. In this movie, the grasshopper blocking the security camera seems to be doing it on purpose, blocking it at the alien's bidding. Gordy goes crazy and eats people, probably prodded by the alien as well. The motif of predators and the food chain is prevalent in the film, and the humans are no longer on top.

Okay, now for the criticism. Major spoilers ahead. At the beginning of what I consider the third act, the UFO is revealed to be an alien entity itself. This slows the momentum and tension of the movie for two reasons-there is no mystery anymore of what the thing is, and there is no possibility of a further reveal of smaller aliens, where they could hide and provide further scares and tension. Once the reveal is made, it becomes no longer a horror movie so much as it becomes a cat and mouse, chase film. The audience is no longer left guessing, and can focus on the one big creature in the sky. It's not that it kills the movie, just slows it down and decreases the increasing suspense and dread in the film. The more the UFO is shown, the less it becomes a spectacle and the more it becomes a bore. Then there's the ambiguous themes in the film. I already mentioned that there's a food chain motif, and I'm sure there are more that would be found with repeat viewings, but immediately I can't think of the overarching theme that ties the film together. Whereas with Get Out and Us the theme and focus of the movie was clear, with Nope Peele seems to put a lot on the plate without committing to any of them. I concede this could change with more viewings, however.

Anywho, I enjoyed the movie, especially the first two-thirds. Oh yeah, and the soundtrack rocks. There's a few needle drops, and music is used to good effect in the film. I'll probably watch it again and try to figure it out a little more, but dang, I wish either the twist was held for longer or not made at all.

Seriously disappointing.

[Dodge-Zombie · 2/10 · 25 August 2022]

There is no easy way to put this subtly. This movie is boring. It's about 40 minutes too long. The first hour i was wondering when something was going to happen. The swcond hour I was wondering when it would end.

Any attempts at humour fell flat. The acting was just wooden for the most part. The story could of been good but it was just dragged along.

I really struggle to find anything good to say about it. In retrospect I'd of been better of watching "Get Out" or "Us" again. They are great movies. This is not even close to those standards.

Seriously not recommended. Not even just to watch once. It's over 2 hours and could of been covered in an hour or less.

It was interesting to say the least.

[jegd-847-631407 · 7/10 · 7 August 2022]

I went into this film with an open mind, because frankly I've liked one movie Jordan Peele has done, and wasn't expecting a good story. What I got from 'Nope' was that there's a broader story to tell here. Beginning with the TV series featuring a chimpanzee named Gordy and the 6 minute "incident" caught on camera. I wasn't sure why it was a focal point to begin with, other than the film itself discusses animal behavior, specifically territoriality. Peele takes liberty with history and facts that might persuade viewers that information about the 'Animal Locomotion' film or the Haywood family are true. The small amusement park called Jupiter's Claim had their own invitational title cared at the end of the movie. Even the in-film television series titled Gordy seems as if it could have been an actual show. Some of the fiction was mixed with non-fiction such as relating the Haywood family with the film work on 'The Scorpion King'. There was also a bit of information about renaming UFOs, UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) that is based on fact. If all of these connections came from actual events I would have granted 'Nope' 10 stars, because it was pieced together so well.

Ultimately the movie is about a UFO. It centers the story, but ultimately this is a character driven film. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are masterful actors. I would love to see Keke Palmer's character Emerald Haywood turn up in more stories. I'd have to say she carried the film. Daniel Kaluuya's character OJ Haywood was rather quiet and calm throughout the plot, as his sister Emerald over shadowed him in public speaking and representation. I really enjoyed his mannerisms because he genuinely complemented the sister and balanced them as a family dynamic. They behave just like most brothers & sisters I've known. I was sad to see Keith David as their father not get a larger slot in the movie. I've always liked Keith David, and his performance as Otis Haywood Sr. While small was incredibly good. He's such a great actor and I would have liked that the audience see more of him in comparison to the roles he's more famous for.

The story was hindered by the editing. It broke off in chapters to tell more of the background of the character Ricky "Jupe" Park played by Steven Yeun. It was as if the director sought to reuse the character in a separate feature, and utilizes 'Nope' to present that origin story. It's a rather minor role that was underwhelming for the full story. There were hints at a larger story for the Haywood family, with older events presented that simply were not given enough life within this setting. I would like to see more of these same characters because they were the best thing about the movie. I would also have rated this movie higher if it was an era piece, perhaps set in the 1950's. The overall feel was available, it had the ambiance of a western about it, but Peele modernized it with camera equipment, vehicles, and an electric motorcycle. Admittedly if the electric motorcycle was removed from the final result, then 'Nope' would have become timeless and lasting for several years to come.

In regards to viewer response, I think most people will enjoy 'Nope'. It's really good when Peele stays on the characters, and the ending was amazing towards the finale. I just wish there was more of what got held back for the climax. It's definitely worth watching and it'll remain a valuable addition to science fiction. Nice job, Jordan.

the horse in motion

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 21 July 2022]

Greetings again from the darkness. With his first two films, GET OUT (2017) and US (2019), writer-director-producer Jordan Peele already has an Oscar and has firmly established himself as one of the most innovative and visionary filmmakers working today. He has entered the revered class of directors whose new films are automatically 'must see'. This is in spite of our knowing full well that he doesn't strive for mass accessibility, and typically seems less focused on character development and more focused on what's happening to those characters and how they react. Mr. Peele's latest is a unique blend of Science Fiction, Horror, and Comedy, with a dose of horses, UFOs, and box store employees. At its core, the film is about chasing the spectacle of a spectacle, so that one might become a spectacle themself.

A cold opening is a bit of 'found footage' from a horrific event on the set of a TV show featuring a chimp named Gordy. We have no idea how this fits in to what we are about to watch, but it's shocking and disturbing. We then shift to find Otis Haywood Sr (Keith David) working the horses on a ranch with his son, OJ Jr (Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, 2021). Dad founded the Haywood Hollywood Ranch to train and handle horses for the entertainment industry - movies, TV shows, advertisements. A mysterious death means OJ Jr and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer, AKEELAH AND THE BEE, 2006) must take over running the ranch; however, a hilarious scene on set highlights the differences between big brother and little sister. OJ understands horses, but is laconic and reserved. Emerald is hungry for personal fame and is bursting with energy and dreams. She has little use for the ranch, while OJ is devoted to carrying on dad's work - knowing he needs Emerald's personality.

The suspense is turned up to 11 when strange things begin happening on the ranch and in the sky. OJ (his name is a running gag) and Emerald recognize this is their opportunity to cash in by securing photographic evidence of UFO (or UAP) and alien activity. Joining in on the mission is Angel (a terrific Brandon Perea), a tech nerd from Fry's Electronics. The trio is joined later by renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott using a Tom Waits voice), who understands the importance of capturing what OJ and Emerald call "the Oprah shot". Obviously, this is Peele's commentary on how folks today long for their chance to shine in the spotlight - and capitalize monetarily on the moment. Also recognizing this shot at fame is Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun), the owner of a local western-themed amusement park. Jupe is a former child actor whose career included "Kid Sheriff" and a role in the sitcom featured in the opening sequence with Gordy the chimp. He has tapped into the skyward activities, but longs for more.

Purposefully vague is my approach in writing about this, as director Peele and cinematographer extraordinaire, Hoyte Van Hoytema (frequent collaborator with Christopher Nolan) serve up some incredible visuals and high-suspense sequences, and it's best if you know as little as possible going in. It's easy to spot influences of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), "The Twilight Zone", and other Sci-Fi classics, as well as directors Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock. In a tip of the cap to film history, Peele ties in the early moving picture work of Eadweard Muybridge and his 1878 clip, "The Horse in Motion." It's a brilliant touch that cinephiles will appreciate.

Supporting work comes from Donna Mills, Oz Perkins, Eddie Jemison, and Terry Notary as Gordy the Chimp, but it's the chemistry between Kaluuya and Palmer that make a relatively thin story succeed as commentary on society. Peele even gets in a few pot shots at the media (TMZ) and the oversaturation of celebrity. The desolate setting of the hills and valleys outside of Los Angeles make for a perfect setting, as does the contrasting use of daytime and nighttime for certain shots. Peele proves yet again that he has a real feel for serving up commentary disguised as tension, or is it tension doused with commentary? Either way, I'm lining up now for his next film, whatever that may be.

Opening in theaters July 22, 2022.

Why all the hate? People watch, but they don't see...

[shimotorres · 8/10 · 12 August 2022]

We liked it, rating it a 7.5. I've read many of the poor reviews, and...I don't get it. "Horror" doesn't mean only gory, bloody, slasher films. Suspense is integral to a horror film, and Nope delivers that. No story line? There's something strange going on in their gulch that killed their dad, they're trying to find out what it is - and capitalize on it. Not that hard.

SPOILERS

"aliens abducting people and animals for some reason" REALLY? Alien was EATING them! How hard is that to figure out?

"And where did the flying shrapnel even come from?" SERIOUSLY? The alien was ridding its digestive system of anything inorganic. How hard is that to figure out?

"a crazed A/V specialist who sacrifices himself for no reason" REALLY? I guess most people "watch" movies but really don't pay attention. Antlers made some statement about his being the best, and how hard it is to top that. When he saw the creature, he knew his greatest achievement would be to get the perfect shot - of being swallowed up into it. Like storm chasers who would love to film being picked up by a tornado. He knew he could film the innards, and then the alien would spit out the camera and film - thus giving the world a film clip that no one else could ever top.

"slow moving" and "boring". I'm guessing these are people who have the attention span of a gnat and want something to happen every five seconds. "Slow moving" - it's actually building suspense. Nothing boring about it. Every scene had a purpose.* e.g. Why did Jupe want to buy the ranch? For the sacrificial horses he used every Friday night...(Which is dumb. It'd be far cheaper to buy horses destined for slaughter.)

*We had a hard time figuring out the "why" of the Gordy subplot. When I Googled it, now I get the tie-in. Google "what's the deal with Gordy the chimp in nope" to get the Mashable article, which explains it well.

We thought the film was beautifully shot, that the pacing was good, we understood the characters (introverted OJ, fame-seeking Emerald), and the plan to capture the alien on film based on everything they'd observed about it - and not die - was fun.

My only issues with it were: #1 - I didn't get the whole Gordy subplot before I Googled it.

#2 - I thought it stupid that it wouldn't suck you up if you didn't look at it. I'd missed the point about it "being territorial" so don't challenge it by looking at it. I'm sorry, but in my mind, an alien with that technology can tell what's organic or not. Organic? Suck up and eat. Not organic? Pass.

#3 - I was disappointed the alien opened up to the big floaty thing. The concept of it being a hard spaceship on the outside, organic on the inside (like Battlestar Galactica's Cylon Raiders) was much more interesting to me. And blowing up just because it ate one giant balloon...aargh.

But we liked it. It was intriguing, it was fun.

Very ambitious and original, with some great metaphors, but ultimately could've been so much better.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 26 August 2022]

It's Peele's best entry to date - imo, but it tries - as usual, to be too sophisticated, a conversation piece, moreso than an enjoyable thrilling ride. It felt too long, too slow, muddled, with a convoluted and disjointed narrative that was all over the place. Any character or plot development was merely metaphorical and lacked depth and cohesion. The cinematography and visual effects were excellent, as were the performances, although I'm getting tired of Kaluuya's monotonic and drab demeanor. His character could've been better cast with someone who'd be excited to star in this film, just like Palmer was.

Fun, Terrifying, Original

[SenethavilayCasey · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

There is so much going on here and ultimately that is the films biggest weakness. It doesn't really commit to any certain genre. It's genre blending to the max! Still, it's a total blast that will have you laughing in one moment and screaming in the next. The horror elements are my favorite. At this point Peele has proven himself to be a horror master. But this is not really a horror film per say. It's got horror elements as well as comedy, thriller, action, and western. Probably the most unique film to come out in the Covid era. It was a total blast.

Interesting concept with an unexpected twist.

[fciocca · 7/10 · 3 June 2023]

I see "Nope" as a parody of the alien invasion genre that was made quite well. Out of the three Jordan Peele movies, it is the one that I liked the most, because I felt that it was truly different from what we are used to seeing in commercial cinema nowadays. At the beginning I thought that this was just another UFO story, but there is a wonderful twist that changes things completely. The film keeps a mysterious vibe, by showing the point of view of the characters, that needs to face an unknown menace. There are many beautifully conceived shots and the film is dynamic: it does not lose time in pointless sub-plots or annoying dialogues. The director was focused and he told a nice and at times funny story, that's it: pure entertainment with a bit of experimentation to keep things spicy.

The acting is overall good, but I could not bear Emerald. She was really annoying as she screamed all the time. Keke Palmer's acting feels too forced. It was really the only thing about this flick that I did not like and unfortunately by being one of the main characters, it slightly ruined my experience. The VFX are amazing: there are so many creative ideas and you get to see something different than the typical alien with gray skin and big black eyes. Peele is on the right path. "Get Out" was fine, but it did not bring anything new to the plate, while "Us" for me was a complete disaster. I am happy to finally give a solid 7 out of 10 to one of his projects.

Slow,over-hyped,boring

[Misss25 · 2/10 · 22 August 2022]

I'm that kind of person who loves Extraterrestrial movies. About half an hour, there were no sign of Aliens or UFO whatsoever. At some point, you might think, you are watching a wrong movie. Even so, I gather much patience and I kept watching this. I thought, it might be a slow burner. But, when I saw a UFO in the screen, I was like now the show begins. Instead, I got disappointment again. The movie is super slow. The creature was cartoonish. Now,I'm thinking or I'm rewarding myself, I have so much patience that I finished this slow boring movie. Don't let RATINGS misguide you ') It isn't worth watching :) I regret wasting my 2 hours + on this.

Fantastic

[gbill-74877 · 8/10 · 26 August 2022]

If you don't respect the boundaries and ways of other creatures, you'll end up getting hurt. That's one of the obvious things Jordan Peele is telling us in Nope, and I loved how gradual he was in doing that through what seemed to be disparate story lines in the horses and chimp. He was also wise in not fully explaining the alien, which I thought made it scarier, and scenes like the one where it swoops down on Daniel Kaluuya riding his horse were brilliantly rendered. Along the way he touches on the insatiable desire of humans to capture things on film, starting from Muybridge's earliest work, as well as the crass ways they commercialize things, including the cheesy tv show with its applause sign, the mad magazine and SNL spoofs of a horrifying event, and the outdoor show which proved that Steven Yeun's character didn't learn his lesson. The only drawback for me was in the film's length; I thought it could have been tightened up and shorter. Otherwise, brilliantly conceived, great cast, layered meaning, and a fun ride.

Started with overwhelming potential.

[max-dominic · 6/10 · 12 March 2024]

I can honestly say I have never had any movie grip me with so much curiosity and excitement in the first 30 minutes only to end with so great a weight of disappointment at it's close.

As others have pointed out, it's difficult to understand why - given the plethora of avenues that were available and sure to be imagined by so talented a mind as Jordan Peele - this is where the film was taken.

There was boundless opportunity for storylines that could have classed in the same category of special and original as Get Out and Us - Peele's previous works, but the film became bizarre. No other word for it.

Peele's characters are usually so believable, and it is one of the cornerstones of his work that has best enabled audiences to feel so enraptured and immersed prior to Nope. That convincing forming of character is missing in more than a few here. Not - it should be noted - in the two main characters played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, but when surrounding and still important characters fall so flat and insincere in the majority of the film, it takes a lot away from the strong work Daniel and Keke produce.

I don't know whether I'm more disappointed at the execution of the film, or that so valuable an opportunity for alternative and haunting plot lines was wasted.

It was generally not good - and it really pains me to say that.

An apt title

[darkreignn · 3/10 · 23 July 2022]

"Nope" is the next disappointment by Jordan Peele who, with each movie, seems to look more and more like a one hit wonder. "Get Out" was an incredible thriller that fired on every cylinder and hit every note; "Us" had a phenomenal trailer, but seemed to confuse audiences with its convoluted and borderline pretentious ending where, the more you think about things, the less sense they make. "Nope" follows that same vein, and I can't help but think that Peele feels as if he needs to shock and awe when, perhaps, a more simple, straightforward tale would have worked better.

"Nope" is two hours and ten minutes long, so you could say that this isn't a short, breezy film. And I don't necessarily have a problem with that. The problem is, however, that "Nope" doesn't have much to say, do, or tell within that lengthy run time. A slow burn to its very core, "Nope" takes its sweet time setting up the story that it wants to tell - scratch that, though, because there isn't much of a story here in the first place. If you've seen the second trailer for this film, you know that it's about two ranchers who seem to witness an unidentified flying object in the skies above and, as they are both down on their luck and strapped for cash, they decide to set up some cameras in hopes of capturing said UFO on film so they can sell the footage. An interesting, if bare bones, premise to be sure, but surely one that gives way to the real meat, hook, and plot of the film, no?

Nope. The story never gets any grander or more unique than its initial set up. Sure, there is a subplot that is, granted, pretty intense, leading to a few unique and twisted scenes, but it hardly adds anything to the movie except an added running time. Without spoilers, the subplot has to do with a certain animal; while I understood what they were going for, I couldn't help but wonder why the scenes didn't get cut in editing to create a tighter, more focused story, as I imagine the entire point of the subplot will fly over the heads of many.

The simple premise wouldn't be a problem if the film led to a bombastic and satisfying conclusion, but it doesn't. Throwing its simple premise out the window to instead attempt to surprise audiences with a twist that is somehow more underwhelming than my life, "Nope" devolves into a parody of itself by the end. I don't want to spoil anything, but I do want to say that the final act reveal takes all mystery, suspense, tension, and horror out of the picture completely - I literally couldn't believe my eyes; I mean, who thought what they did would be a good idea on any level, especially visually? Let's just say that, in this case, less would have been more.

"Nope" was a disappointment to me, and is further proof that Jordan Peele is - sadly - becoming a one hit wonder. A tighter, more streamlined and focused story would've worked wonders here, especially in helping to create the horror film that this movie was advertised as being. It pains me to say, however, that viewers may not find the contents of the film horrifying as much as they may find themselves scared of "Nope's" utter mediocrity.

Symbolism over writing i guess

[jusglenn · 6/10 · 4 September 2022]

Jordan peeles new addition builds alot of tension, to basically do nothing with it. He has an obsessions with overlaying his movie with some sort of deeper symbolism. The problem is this effects the writing, specifically the third act. The flashbacks of the chimp were actually scarier than the main antagonist. To me thats a problem. Keke palmers acting is over the top and not convincing. Can hollywood get over her yey? Meanwhile, the rest of the cast was superb. What a waste. Jordan, can you please just make an actually horror film? You seem pretty good at it until you shove comedy and deeper symbolism into it. Thanks.

Weird, eerie, fun, polarized.

[aweynand96 · 7/10 · 2 August 2022]

This movie is 'Tremors' for the sky. It's the thing David Lynch would make if he saw 'Arrival' and decided to adapt it into a California western. It was also totally riveting and weird.

Having seen all 3 of Jordan Peele's feature-length horror films, I can state confidently that I dig his style. Certain ingredients are predictable now, but they never make the plot anymore so. You can expect sharp costume design, well-timed comedy, and a banger soundtrack; but you can't quite imagine what creation he's going to be piecing together next. Perhaps that's why 'Nope' was so satisfying to watch.

I'll start with the things I don't like about the movie, and they're pretty simple. I wasn't crazy about some of the acting direction, because sometimes Daniel Kaluuya and Brandon Perea ("Angel") behave aloof - and their reactions don't always match the situation at hand, leaving me confused about the stakes. The dialogue is wry, and while oiled with humor, some lines fall flat or just miss their mark. I have to admit that this might be Peele's weakest script of the three. People noticed. Lastly, and this is probably subjective, some elements left unexplained are fruitless red herrings; but as they could also be thematic chess pieces that I'm too dumb to work out, I'm letting it go.

On the flipside, however, I was enthralled the entire runtime. Peele has really begun to master scene-making, such that the expositional bits never lost my attention because of his eye for interesting set-pieces and good chemistry (which was always engaging between Kaluuya and Keke Palmer). In 'Nope', set-pieces also include the wardrobe, which was lovingly eccentric. I could never pull off most of those looks but they kept the characters unique and give insight into their character. Some outfits are even distracting, but I don't mind enough to be mad. Former double-dutch star and spelling bee champion Keke Palmer presents with most of the fits and I really hope to see more of her in future films, because she was magnetic in all of her scenes, from the very first onward. The Disney Channel can't hold back a star like that.

Oh, yeah - this is also a horror film. Sometimes, especially when I'm laughing, it's barely so. But the parts in which horror is ingrained are truly eerie, earned, and memorable. There are scenes with an ape that made me feel sick to my stomach. There's creature design (mild spoiler) that is wholly unique, but in a way that feels practical and exciting and not for the sake of a gimmick. Peele draws serious effect from the use of people's screams - something underappreciated in horror movies - and the consequence is real fear of what might be causing the din. Your imagination does the legwork. Simple sound design makes a major impact when things get tense.

The past few years have felt like a horror movie recession. I do a lot of digging to find good films that don't make it big in the theaters, and even to that end I've often come up disappointed lately. For 'Nope' to hit screens in the same cycle as 'Black Phone' feels, as you could expect, like a major breath of fresh air.

6.5/10. I'm still thinking about the ape scenes.