What's Happening?
Jordan Peele's 2017 film 'Get Out' has been highlighted as a significant work that contributed to the resurgence of critical esteem for the horror genre. The movie, openly marketed as horror, received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor,
and ultimately won Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards. This recognition is particularly notable given the Academy's historical tendency to overlook horror films, often requiring them to disguise their genre identity to gain critical acceptance. 'Get Out' is praised for its ability to use a supernatural premise to explore complex social issues, specifically the insidious nature of polite liberal racism. The film transforms social discomfort and the historical commodification of Black bodies into literal horror, making racism a physical threat within its narrative. This approach demonstrated that horror can function as both popular entertainment and serious social criticism.
Why It's Important?
The critical success of 'Get Out' is important because it challenged long-standing perceptions within the film industry and broader cultural institutions regarding the artistic merit of horror. For decades, horror was often relegated to technical categories or dismissed as inherently unserious, despite its consistent popularity and its capacity for social commentary. 'Get Out' forced institutions like the Academy to acknowledge that the genre can be a powerful vehicle for serious social criticism, directly addressing anxieties about racial injustice in a compelling and accessible way. This shift in recognition has paved the way for other horror films to be taken more seriously, fostering an environment where filmmakers can explore complex themes without having to downplay the genre elements. It signifies a broader cultural willingness to engage with horror not just as entertainment, but as a mirror reflecting societal fears and issues.
What's Next?
The success of 'Get Out' and other critically acclaimed horror films suggests a continued trend of the genre being recognized for its artistic and social value. This could lead to more diverse and thought-provoking horror productions receiving mainstream attention and awards. Filmmakers may feel more empowered to use horror as a platform for social commentary, tackling contemporary anxieties such as economic instability, political polarization, and technological surveillance. The industry's increased openness to 'elevated horror' or horror that doesn't shy away from its genre identity while delivering profound messages, indicates a potential for a richer and more varied landscape of horror cinema in the coming years. This shift may also encourage audiences and critics to approach horror with a more discerning eye, looking beyond superficial scares to appreciate deeper thematic content.
Beyond the Headlines
The deeper implication of 'Get Out's' impact is its contribution to a cultural re-evaluation of how art reflects societal anxieties. Horror, by its very nature, translates abstract fears into tangible forms, making it uniquely suited to address systemic issues that are often difficult to articulate. 'Get Out' exemplifies how the genre can make the dehumanizing effects of racism not just a concept, but a visceral experience for the audience. This development highlights a growing understanding that fear is not antithetical to seriousness; rather, it can be a direct route to confronting uncomfortable truths. The film's success underscores a broader cultural shift where institutions are becoming more willing to listen to what horror has been saying for generations: that the monsters we create in our stories often reveal the hidden fears and injustices within our own societies.
