Nope
A hypnotically engaging sci-fi thriller that is sure to keep you hooked.
OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) is working as a ranch hand for his father (Keith David), who runs a stable of horses used in movies and tv shows, when all of a sudden the sky starts raining pocket litter. Coins, keys, and other metallic pieces fall from the sky, and one lodges itself in OJ’s father’s brain, killing him. 6 months on, OJ and his sister Emerald are struggling to keep the business afloat, when they stumble across a strange phenomenon. Convinced it is alien in nature, they set out - with the help of an eager local tech store employee Angel Torres (Brandon Perea) - to catch the ‘Oprah’ shot, and make their fortune.
Nope, from the mind and directorial hands of Jordan Peele, further cements his status as one of the greatest working directors alive today. Coming off the back of the lauded Get Out, and the well-received Us, Nope has big shoes to fill when it comes to quality and fan engagement. Peele doesn’t balk from this challenge, and gives us something fresh, new and interesting when compared to those pieces, but also matching in quality and tone enough to satisfy any fan.
Daniel Kaluuya is absolutely magnetic as OJ, the taciturn hero of the piece. With a series of gruff grunts, muttered ‘Nope’s, and a wide array of sullen, under the brim of his cap looks, he conveys a world of emotion. Kaluuya’s OJ is almost an Eastwood like hero; reminiscent of the Man with No Name. Indeed, his battle against the otherworldly presence in this film gives us vibes of what the maligned Cowboys and Aliens might have been like, with a more engaging lead character.
He’s matched ably by both Keke Palmer and Brandon Perea, who both bring a real wealth of energy (at different speeds and in different tones) to the piece. Big personalities, particularly in a horror or thriller film where frustrations around lead characters making dumb choices are often rife, can pose a problem, but both Palmer and Perea retain their likeability despite necessarily muddling through the motions the plot demands of them. Kaluuya’s OJ, as the taciturn, silent type, doesn’t have to deal with these challenges, and in many respects has the easier time for it.
Visually, the film is stunning; the CGI is beautiful and used sparingly when needed. The practical sets are lived in and feel both authentic and out of this world, and the landscape of the California desert is magnificent. The costuming, too, is great; not least of all because of the number of orange Scorpion King hoodies that will be sold post this release.
Overall, Nope is the sort of sci-fi film you can’t look away from, and are likely to recommend to your friends. It’s fun, not too scary (certainly not as scary as Peele’s last two films), and utterly, completely spectacular.
