[SIZE=7]Review: This is ‘Us’ — and it’s tense and terrifying[/SIZE]
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This image released by Universal Pictures shows Lupita Nyong’o in a scene from “Us,” written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele. (Claudette Barius/Universal Pictures via AP)
It’s difficult to write a review — let alone talk, walk or drive home — when in the throes of a full-body clench, which is exactly how I felt during and after watching “Us.”
“Tightly wound,” “ratcheted up,” “tension-filled” — none of these phrases does justice to what writer-producer-director Jordan Peele has wrought in his sophomore horror effort after 2017’s “Get Out,” a cultural touchstone and Oscar winner for best original screenplay.
“Us” now has the largest weekend for an original horror movie, surpassing “A Quiet Place,” as well as the biggest launch for an original R-rated film behind “Ted.” It also shattered the benchmark set by Peele’s directorial debut “Get Out,” which launched with $33 million in 2017.
“Put simply, Jordan Peele is a genius,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic distribution. “He’s managed to tap into something that the domestic box office can’t get enough of. People can’t wait to see what he does next.”
Since its debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival, “Us” has continued to build up enthusiastic word of mouth. It has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, rare praise for the horror genre and a testament to Peele’s ability to deliver scares that also encourage audiences to think. It stars Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke as a couple forced to fend off blood-thirsty clones while vacationing with their kids.