Jordan Peele

After huge success with Get Out followed by Us, Jordan Peale tackles a sci-fi/Western/horror story, set in Southern California’s picturesque Agua Dulce, where “O.J.” Haywood Jr. (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) are trying to continue a family tradition. Peale is a bit too subtle this time because, while there’s plenty of tension, often evoked by Hoyte Van Hoytema’s striking cinematography and Michael Abels’ score, the stakes are pretty low.

In his third film, writer, director, producer Jordan Peele sticks with the delivery of ample servings of horror and mystery that earned him a seat at the big kid’s table, but adds a healthy sprinkle of spicy Sci Fi as he kicks it up a notch with NOPE. Set in the mountainous desert north of Los Angeles, NOPE is about brother and sister horse wranglers who believe aliens have camped out in a cloud over their family’s ranch. When they decide to get video of the creepy occurrences to cash in on the phenomenon, they get more than they bargained for.