Get Out (2017): A controlled descent into social horror

ByFabian Bullitt

2017 • Jordan Peele • 2.39:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Directed by Jordan Peele, Get Out follows a young Black photographer who travels to his white girlfriend’s family estate in the countryside. What begins as an uneasy yet seemingly ordinary visit gradually takes a darker turn as he encounters a series of increasingly strange interactions with the family and their acquaintances. This leads him to uncover a disturbing system operating beneath the surface of polite social behaviour.

In his directorial debut, Peele uses social codes to build horror rather than immediate physical threat. He creates a social thriller that combines traditional horror tropes with a critique of subtle, suburban racism. Adopting the structure of a ‘fish out of water’ mystery, the film draws inspiration from films like The Stepford Wives, while subverting these conventions by focusing on the Black experience and the specific anxiety of being watched. Framing and blocking reinforce this dynamic, often isolating the protagonist within controlled environments that appear ordered but mask intrusion.

The film’s most striking visual device is the ‘Sunken Place‘, which serves as both a storytelling device and a conceptual image. Through minimalist visual design incorporating darkness, spatial depth, and suspended movement, it represents a state of paralysis and detachment, contrasting with the film’s otherwise grounded visual style. Blending psychological horror, satire, and thriller elements, Get Out builds tension through precision and subtlety. Here, horror does not emerge from chaos, but from a carefully organised system designed to conceal its underlying violence.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: A young Black man visiting his white girlfriend’s family estate uncovers a disturbing conspiracy that turns casual liberal politeness into a chilling system of exploitation and control.
  • Actors: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, LaKeith Stanfield, Stephen Root, Lil Rel Howery.
  • Director: Jordan Peele
  • Year: 2017
  • Cinematographers: Toby Oliver & Denson Baker
  • Origin: American Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
  • Genre: Horror
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